Question

Consider a blue light which has a wavelength of 458 nm. What is its wavelength (in nanometers) in Plexiglas where light travels at 2 x 108 m/s?

Answer 1

The wavelength of blue light in Plexiglas can be calculated using the refractive index of Plexiglas. By substituting the speed of light in a vacuum and the speed of light in Plexiglas into the equation for refractive index, we find that the refractive index of Plexiglas is 1.5.

Step-by-step explanation:

The wavelength of light in a medium can be determined using the equation:

n = c/v

where n is the refractive index of the medium, c is the speed of light in a vacuum, and v is the speed of light in the medium.

Given that the wavelength of blue light in a vacuum is 458 nm and the speed of light in Plexiglas is 2 x 10^8 m/s, we can calculate the refractive index of Plexiglas using the equation:

n = c/v

Substituting the known values:

n = (3.00 x 10^8 m/s)/(2 x 10^8 m/s) = 1.5

Therefore, the refractive index of Plexiglas is 1.5.