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What happens to the frequency and the wavelength when light passes from a rarer to a denser medium?
- a)Wavelength remains unchanged but frequency changes
- b)They are independent
- c)Wavelength and frequency changes
- d)Wavelength changes but the frequency remain unchanged
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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What happens to the frequency and the wavelength when light passes fro...
When light passes from a rarer to a denser medium, the wavelength of light changes but the frequency remains unchanged. Therefore, there is no change in the frequency of light, only the wavelength changes.
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What happens to the frequency and the wavelength when light passes fro...
When light passes from a rarer medium to a denser medium, such as from air to water or from air to glass, there are changes in both the frequency and wavelength of the light. The correct answer is option 'D', which states that the wavelength changes but the frequency remains unchanged.
Explanation:
1. Understanding Frequency and Wavelength:
- Frequency refers to the number of complete oscillations or cycles of a wave that occur in one second. It is measured in hertz (Hz).
- Wavelength, on the other hand, is the distance between two consecutive corresponding points on a wave, such as the distance between two crests or two troughs. It is usually represented by the Greek letter lambda (λ) and is measured in meters (m).
2. Refraction of Light:
- When light passes from one medium to another, it undergoes a phenomenon known as refraction.
- Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through a boundary between two different media, due to the change in the speed of light.
- The change in speed occurs because light travels at different speeds in different media, such as air, water, or glass.
3. Relation between Speed, Frequency, and Wavelength:
- The speed of light in a medium is inversely proportional to the refractive index of that medium. In other words, the higher the refractive index, the slower the speed of light.
- The frequency of light remains constant as it passes from one medium to another. The frequency of light is determined by the source of light and does not change with the medium it travels through.
- According to the wave equation, the speed of light (v) is equal to the product of its frequency (f) and wavelength (λ): v = fλ.
- Since the frequency remains constant and the speed decreases as light enters a denser medium, the wavelength must decrease to maintain this equation.
4. Conclusion:
- In summary, when light passes from a rarer medium to a denser medium, such as air to water or air to glass, the frequency remains constant, but the wavelength changes.
- The wavelength decreases as light slows down in the denser medium, while the frequency remains unchanged.
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option 'D': Wavelength changes but the frequency remains unchanged.
Explanation:
1. Understanding Frequency and Wavelength:
- Frequency refers to the number of complete oscillations or cycles of a wave that occur in one second. It is measured in hertz (Hz).
- Wavelength, on the other hand, is the distance between two consecutive corresponding points on a wave, such as the distance between two crests or two troughs. It is usually represented by the Greek letter lambda (λ) and is measured in meters (m).
2. Refraction of Light:
- When light passes from one medium to another, it undergoes a phenomenon known as refraction.
- Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through a boundary between two different media, due to the change in the speed of light.
- The change in speed occurs because light travels at different speeds in different media, such as air, water, or glass.
3. Relation between Speed, Frequency, and Wavelength:
- The speed of light in a medium is inversely proportional to the refractive index of that medium. In other words, the higher the refractive index, the slower the speed of light.
- The frequency of light remains constant as it passes from one medium to another. The frequency of light is determined by the source of light and does not change with the medium it travels through.
- According to the wave equation, the speed of light (v) is equal to the product of its frequency (f) and wavelength (λ): v = fλ.
- Since the frequency remains constant and the speed decreases as light enters a denser medium, the wavelength must decrease to maintain this equation.
4. Conclusion:
- In summary, when light passes from a rarer medium to a denser medium, such as air to water or air to glass, the frequency remains constant, but the wavelength changes.
- The wavelength decreases as light slows down in the denser medium, while the frequency remains unchanged.
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option 'D': Wavelength changes but the frequency remains unchanged.
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What happens to the frequency and the wavelength when light passes from a rarer to a denser medium?a)Wavelength remains unchanged but frequency changesb)They are independentc)Wavelength and frequency changesd)Wavelength changes but the frequency remain unchangedCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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