Practice question
Question
What is the speed of light in a medium with refractive index 1.45, given the speed in vacuum is \( 3.0
\times 10^8 \, \text{m/s} \)?
Explanation
**Frequency of light** does not change on refraction, c = f λ, when enters denser medium speed decreases, wavelength decreases λ' = v/f = c/(n f) = λ/n, frequency same, for λ=480 nm f=c/λ=3×10⁸/480×10⁻⁹=6.25×10¹⁴ Hz, for 630 nm f=4.76×10¹⁴ Hz, for 540 nm f=5.56×10¹⁴ Hz, refractive index determines bending. Speed in a medium v = (c/n) . Given n = 1.45 , c = 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s , v = (3.0 × 10⁸/1.45) ≈ 2.07 × 10⁸ m/s . Using Δ = d sinθ, y = n λ D/d, a sinθ = n λ, I = I₀ cos²θ, n = c/v, sinC = 1/n,
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