Final answer:
The factors that change as light waves pass from one transparent medium into another are the velocity and wavelength. The speed of light and hence the wavelength vary due to the refractive index of the medium, however, the frequency remains constant as it is linked to the source of the light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question of which factors change as light waves pass from one transparent medium into another is b. Velocity and wavelength.
When light waves transition between different media, such as from air to water, two key properties of the wave change. First, the velocity of light changes because the speed of light is different in different materials due to their refractive indices. The speed of light in a medium is given by the equation v = c/n, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum and n is the medium's index of refraction. Secondly, the wavelength of the light also changes, which is an outcome of the change in velocity and the constant nature of the frequency of light. The frequency remains unchanged because it is a property of the source of the light and not affected by the medium through which the light is traveling.
By contrast, when considering sound, the speed of sound depends on the properties of the medium but not on the wavelength or frequency of the sound waves.