5.2 More about refraction

Question 1

What affects the amount refraction that takes places?

Answer 1

» Speed of the waves in each substance

Question 2

Which equation links the refractive index on a substance and the speed of light?

Answer 2

» N(s) = c/c(s)
» N(s) is the refractive index
» c is the speed of light in the vacuum
» c(s) is the speed of light in the substance

Question 3

which equation links the refractive index and wavelength?

Answer 3

» N(S) = lambda/lambda(s)

Question 4

What is the equation for the refractive index?

Answer 4

» Speed of light in a vacuum/ the speed of light in the transparent substance

Question 5

Why does white-light split into colors of a spectrum?

Answer 5

» White-light composed of light with a continous range of wavelengths
» Glass prims refracts light by different amounts depending on its wavelength
» Shorter wavelength in air - greater diffraction - such as the color red

Question 5

Why does white-light split into colors of a spectrum?

Answer 5

» White-light composed of light with a continous range of wavelengths
» Glass prims refracts light by different amounts depending on its wavelength
» Shorter wavelength in air - greatger diffraction

Question 6

Why does the white light disperse?

Answer 6

» Because the speed of light in glass depends on wavelength
» Violet light travels more slowly than red light in glass so the refractive index of violet light is greater than the refractive index of red light