Question

g The index of refraction for water is about What happens as a beam of light travels from air into water? Its speed increases to , and its frequency decreases. Its speed decreases to , and its wavelength decreases by a factor of . Its speed decreases to , and its wavelength increases by a factor of Its speed and frequency remain the same. Its speed decreases to , and its frequency increases.

Answer 1

Its speed decreases to 2.26 x 10^8 m/s , and its wavelength decreases by a factor of 1.33.

Step-by-step explanation:

When beam of light travel from a less dense medium (air) to more dense medium (water), the speed of the light decreases.

Refractive index of water = speed of light in air / speed of light in water

Refractive index of water = 1.33

speed of light in air = 300,000,000 m/s

Thus, speed of light in water = (300,000,000) / 1.33

= 2.26 x 10^8 m/s

From simple wave equation;

Speed of wave = frequency x wavelength.

From the equation above, at a constant frequency, as speed decreases, wavelength also decreases. In this question the speed decreased by a factor of 1.33, therefore the wavelength will also decrease by a factor of 1.33.

Therefore, Its speed decreases to 2.26 x 10^8 m/s , and its wavelength decreases by a factor of 1.33.