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A light ray of wavelength 641 nm traveling in air (n₁ = 1.00) is incident on a boundary with a liquid (n₂ = 1.49).

a) What is the frequency of the refracted ray?

User Nullable
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Final answer:

When a light ray travels from one medium to another, its frequency remains constant. The wavelength of the refracted ray in the liquid will be approximately 429 nm.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a light ray travels from one medium to another, its frequency remains constant. However, its wavelength changes based on the refractive indices of the two media. In this case, the light ray is traveling from air (n₁ = 1.00) to a liquid (n₂ = 1.49), so its wavelength will change. The frequency, on the other hand, will remain the same.

To determine the frequency of the refracted ray, we can use the equation:

n₁/λ₁ = n₂/λ₂

Where n₁ and n₂ are the refractive indices of the two media, and λ₁ and λ₂ are the wavelengths in the respective media.

Since we know the wavelength of the incident ray in air (641 nm) and the refractive indices of air and the liquid, we can solve for the wavelength of the refracted ray in the liquid:

1/641nm = 1.49/λ₂

Solving for λ₂, we find that the wavelength of the refracted ray in the liquid is approximately 429 nm.

User Rajan Goswami
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