Question

Which of the following statements is more accurate regarding the behavior of light when it enters a piece of transparent glass?

a) Jenny is correct; the ray of blue light will slow down in the glass.
b) Tammi is correct; the light will not slow down, but the color of the light will change slightly.
c) Both Jenny and Tammi are partially correct, but neither statement is entirely accurate.
d) Neither Jenny nor Tammi is correct, and the behavior of light in glass is different from both statements.

Answer 1

The most accurate statement about the behavior of light entering a piece of transparent glass is that the light slows down and its wavelength decreases; the color remains unchanged while the frequency remains constant.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a ray of light travels from air into a piece of transparent glass, the behavior of light involves a change in both speed and wavelength. Specifically, the speed of light decreases when it enters the glass because glass is a denser medium than air. Additionally, the wavelength of light also decreases, which is indicative of light slowing down. The color of the light does not change; instead, it is the frequency of the light that remains constant as light transitions from one medium to another, while its speed and wavelength are affected.

Therefore, statement a) that 'Jenny is correct; the ray of blue light will slow down in the glass' is the most accurate regarding the behavior of light when it enters a piece of transparent glass. This slowing down of light leads to its change in direction, a phenomenon known as refraction, which alters the light ray's path but not its inherent color.