Concept explainers
In Section 9.6, we described how the speed of light varies with wavelength (or frequency) for transparent solids. But the speed of light in matter is also a function of temperature and pressure. This dependence is most marked for gases and is instrumental in producing such things as mirages and atmospheric refraction, the latter phenomenon being the displacement of an astronomical object (like the Sun or another star) from its true position because of the passage of its light through the atmosphere. Because Earth’s atmosphere is a gaseous mixture and easily compressed, its density is highest near Earth’s surface and gradually declines with altitude. (Refer to the discussion in Section 4.4 and Figure 4.29.) Thus, the speed of light in the atmosphere is lowest near the surface and gradually gets higher, approaching c as one goes farther and farther into space. Using this fact and the law of refraction, sketch the path a light ray from the Sun would follow upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, and predict the apparent position of the Sun relative to its true position (Figure 9.85). What does this tell you about the actual location of the Sun’s disk relative to your local horizon when you see it apparently setting brilliantly in the west in the evening?
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Chapter 9 Solutions
Inquiry into Physics
- Light traveling in a medium of index of refraction n1 is incident on another medium having an index of refraction n2. Under which of the following conditions can total internal reflection occur at the interface of the two media? (a) The indices of refraction have the relation n2 n1. (b) The indices of refraction have the relation n1 n2. (c) Light travels slower in the second medium than in the first. (d) The angle of incidence is less than the critical angle. (e) The angle of incidence must equal the angle of refraction.arrow_forwardLight, when incident on a given surface, presents a reflected and a refracted component. When the reflected beam is perpendicular to the refracted beam, the angle of incidence θᵢ is called Brewster's angle. If a beam of light is initially in air with index of refraction n₁ = 1 and is incident on a glass surface (index of refraction n₂ = 1.5), Brewster's angle is: a)82.9° b)36.3° c)75.4° d)62.9° e)56.3° f)45.7°arrow_forwardA light beam is traveling through an unknown substance. When it strikes a boundary between that substance and the air (?air≈1),(nair≈1), the angle of reflection is 25.0∘25.0∘ and the angle of refraction is 47.0∘.47.0∘. What is the index of refraction ?n of the substance?arrow_forward
- A light ray travels from air (n=1.00) into a crown glass (n=1.52) with an angle of incidence of 49 degrees. The light ray continues to travel through the crown glass material into the diamond (n=2.42). At what angle does the light ray make with the normal line as it enters the diamond? 12 deg 48 deg 30 deg 18 degarrow_forwardA beam of light travels from air to liquid. If the angle of incidence is 36.87 degree and angle of refraction is 26.75 degree. The wavelength of light in air is 700 nm. The speed of light in the liquid is______________ a. 2.2505 x 10^8 b. 2.3509 x 10^8 c. 2.0685 x10^8 d. 2.4334 x 10^8arrow_forwardThe speed of light in a vacuum is 3.00 ´ 108 m/s. If the speed of light passing through silicon is 7.5 ´ 107 m/s, what is the refractive index of silicon? a) 40 b) 2.5 c) 25 d) 4arrow_forward
- A fiber optic line is composed of a core with an index of refraction of 1.47 and cladding with an index of 1.36. Which one of the relations best describes angles of incidence q that will result in total internal reflection within the fiber optic line?arrow_forwardA light ray travels from air (n=1.00) into a crown glass (n=1.52) with an angle of incidence of 49 degrees. The light ray continues to travel through the crown glass material into the diamond (n=2.42). At what angle does the light ray make with the normal line as it enters the diamond? a.) 12 deg b,) 30 deg c.) 48 deg d.) 18 degarrow_forwardA ray of light is incident through glass, with refractive index 1.52, on an interface separating glass and water with refractive index 1.32. What is the angle of refraction if the angle of incidence of the ray in glass is 25 °?arrow_forward
- In an ultra-low-temperature experiment, a collection of atoms enter a special state called a Bose-Einstein condensate in which the index of refraction is 1.60 × 107. What is the speed of light in this condensate?arrow_forwardAnswer the following 1.Total internal reflection occurs when: a) light is refracted when it leaves the glass into the air b) the light passing through the glass is reflected inside the glass c) light passes from air to water d) light is reflected in a mirror 2. The refractive index is based on the ratio of the speed of light to: a) two transparent materials b) water at the speed of light in the transparent material c) a vacuum at the speed of light in the transparent material d) air at the speed of light in the transparent material 3. The critical angle for a beam of light passing from water to air is 49 degrees. Which of the following statements is true for a beam of light with an angle of incidence less than the critical angle? a) the lightning will be transmitted completely b) the ray will be completely reflected c) the entire ray will be absorbed d) the beam will be partially reflected and partially transmitted.arrow_forwardCompute the index of refraction for the substance where light proper dates with speed V = 2.4•10^8 m/s. (Speed of light in vacuum is 3•10^8)arrow_forward
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