Question

Critical Thinking Light composed of multiple frequencies passes through crown glass. (a) How much faster does the violet component of the light with a wavelength of 410 nm travel in the crown glass than the component of orange light with a wavelength of 610 nm? (b) In a mechanical situation with friction, the longer one surface moves relative to the other, the more the friction acts, slowing the relative motion during the process. Is this the same for light in a medium? (c) In a mechanical situation, it is possible for friction to stop the motion if it occurs over a long enough path. Is this the same for light in a medium? (d) In a mechanical friction situation, once the object slows it will not increase in speed once the friction no longer acts unless another force is present. If a light ray exits a medium into a vacuum, will it go back to a speed of c even though that would be an increase in speed not caused by an additional force?

a) 2.9×10⁷ m/s, Yes, No, Yes
b) 3.0×10⁸ m/s, Yes, No, No
c) 3.1×10⁸ m/s, No, Yes, Yes
d) 3.2×10⁸ m/s, No, Yes, No

Answer 1

The student's questions focus on comparing the mechanics of light travel through media to friction in mechanical scenarios. While light's speed in a medium is constant and not like friction, it will return to its speed of light in a vacuum when exiting a medium without needing additional force.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question pertains to the behavior of light as it passes through different media and how it can be compared to mechanical scenarios involving friction. However, the provided answer choices (a-d) do not directly answer the questions posed, so we will address the questions conceptually.

(a) To determine how much faster violet light travels compared to orange light in crown glass, one must know the refractive indices of the glass for each wavelength. The difference in speed can be calculated using the refractive indices and the formula v = c / n, where v is the speed of light in the material, c is the speed of light in a vacuum, and n is the refractive index. Since this information is not given, we cannot numerically answer part (a).

(b) Unlike friction in mechanical situations, light traveling in a medium does not experience a cumulative slowing effect over distance. The speed of light in a medium remains constant regardless of the distance traveled.

(c) For light in a medium, unlike mechanical objects with friction, it cannot be brought to a complete stop simply due to the distance traveled within the medium. Light either gets absorbed, after which it ceases to exist in its initial form, or passes through if the medium is transparent.

(d) When a light ray exits a medium and enters a vacuum, it will return to its original speed of c, which is the speed of light in a vacuum (3x10^8 m/s). This change does not require an additional force because the light ray is no longer subject to the optical density of the medium.