Question

A student measures the speed of yellow light in water to be 2.00x10^8

Answer 1

The speed of yellow light in water is 2.25 x 10⁸ m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The speed of yellow light in water is measured to be 2.00 x 10⁸ m/s. This refers to the speed of light in the medium of water. The speed of light in any medium can be calculated using the equation c/n, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum and n is the refractive index of the medium.

The refractive index of water is approximately 1.33. So, using the equation c/n, the speed of light in water would be 2.998 x 10⁸ m/s / 1.33 = 2.25 x 10⁸ m/s.

Therefore, the correct speed of yellow light in water is 2.25 x 10⁸ m/s.

Answer 2

NOTE: The given question is incomplete.

The complete question is given below.

A student measures the speed of yellow light in water to be 2.00 x 10⁸ m/s. Calculate the speed of light in air.

Solution:

Speed of yellow light in water (v) = 2.00 x 10⁸ m/s

Refractive Index of water with respect to air (μ) = 4/3

Refractive Index = Speed of yellow light in air / Speed of yellow light in water

Or, The speed of yellow light in air = Refractive Index × Speed of yellow light in water

or, = (4/3) × 2.00 x 10⁸ m/s

or, = 2.67 × 10⁸ m/s ≈ 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s

Hence, the required speed of yellow light in the air will be 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s.