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When light enters a denser medium what happens to the speed of light and its frequency?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
first of : denser matter does not relate to the massive matter(nothing like g/cm³ ! ) it rather relates to the optical density of a matter, which is a measure of how much light is absorbed per length. both also do not make any statement about the speed of light in that matter.
what you are looking for is the refractive index n which is the relationship of speed of light in free space(c0) to the speed of light in a matter(v)
n = c0 / v alternative definition n = radical ( mu * epsilon)
where mu and epsilon are properties of the matter that describe if it amplifies magnetic or electircal fields.
n can never be smaller than one , otherwise the speed of light in that matter would be lager than that of the free space, which by Einstein can not be.
in any matter the speed of light is lower than that in free space.
specifically
v= c0/ n
v= c0/ radical ( mu * epsilon)
Conclusion: Depending on the electrical properties of your matter the speed of light varies. It will always be equal or less than the speed of light in free space.
last note: for example with glass the speed of light does not only change according to the matter used, but also the wavelength. This is the reason why prisms can spread a white beam of light out to make a rainbow spectrum.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoWhen light crosses the boundary from one medium
into an optically denser one ...
-- its speed decreases
-- its wavelength increases
-- its frequency is unchanged. As long as it stays in the denser medium, nothing changes,
until it again crosses a boundary into a different medium.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoWhen light enters a medium with a higher refractive index, the speed decreases,
the wavelength increases, and the frequency doesn't change.
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When light enters from denser medium to rare medium what happens to its phase change?
phase angle of 0 degree
What happens to the speed of light as light travels though materials?
The speed of light is not affected by the density of the medium. Its the path of the light that is affected . Phenomenon like reflection or refraction take place when the light goes to different medium
What happens to the intensity of light when it enters a dnser medium?
There's no reason to expect that the intensity of light must necessarily change when it enters a different medium.
Why frequency of light never change when light changes medium?
When light enters another medium it changes speed, but thewavelength changes correspondingly so that the frequency does not change. For example, if light enters a medium where its speed is cut in half, then the wavelength will also be reduced by half.
Why light bends towards normal when it enters from optically rare to optically denser medium why it does not bend away from the normal?
This is because of the speed of light getting reduced as it enters into the denser medium. Think of the FRONT of the wave as it enters a more-dense medium at an angle, and its speed decreases. Vizualize it in very slow motion: -- The wave-front arrives at angle, so part of it is across the boundary and into the new medium, while part of it is still out in the old medium. -- The part of the wave-front in the new medium is traveling slower, while the part that hasn't quite reached the boundary yet is still out in the old medium and traveling faster. -- If your vizualization is running accurately, this action is causing the whole wave-front to turn, becoming more parallel with the boundary, and its direction of motion turning toward the normal.
When light enters from denser medium to rare medium what happens to its phase change?
phase angle of 0 degree
When light passes through a denser medium what happens to the light?
a denser medium hav more no.of particles also > the no.of particles > the opposition provided for..... therefore both wavelength and speed of light changes but frequency remains the same.
Why frequency of light is not change When it enter from a rarer medium to denser medium?
Frequency is a function of the energy level of the photon. Changing the medium does not change that energy level.
What is effect on wavelength of light when it enter dense medium?
When light enters a denser medium than it was previously travelling in, the wavelength gets shorter because the speed of the light slows down: v=w/f where v is the velocity of a wave, w is the wave length, and f is the frequency. When light enters the new medium, f does not change but v decreases so w also decreases. Actually, the density of the medium is not accurate. The medium is not denser it just is "optically denser" which means it has a higher index of refraction. It has nothing to do with actual density, which is weight divided by volume.
What happens to the frequency as waves slows down?
The frequency of a wave is detemined by the source, and it stays constant, so if the wave enters a medium where the speed is slower, the wavelength becomes shorter.
When the light enters a denser medium what happens to the wavelengths?
The denser an object is, the slower a wave will travel through it because the wave will interact (collide!) with more molecules. Each collision will serve to slow down the wave of light. Therefore, the wavelength will increase, becoming longer.
What happens to the speed of light as light travels though materials?
The speed of light is not affected by the density of the medium. Its the path of the light that is affected . Phenomenon like reflection or refraction take place when the light goes to different medium
What happens to the intensity of light when it enters a dnser medium?
There's no reason to expect that the intensity of light must necessarily change when it enters a different medium.
When sound enters another medium such as a wall what remains constant?
When sound enters another medium such as a wall, the frequency or pitch of the sound remains constant. The velocity or speed of sound may change depending on the properties of the medium, but the frequency remains the same.
Why frequency of light never change when light changes medium?
When light enters another medium it changes speed, but thewavelength changes correspondingly so that the frequency does not change. For example, if light enters a medium where its speed is cut in half, then the wavelength will also be reduced by half.
What happens to the wavelength of electromagnetic waves as they travel through a denser medium?
The waves become smaller.
What happens as light enters a medium and its speed increases?
It reflects a rainbow pattern
