Wednesday February 13

Refraction- the change in direction upon transmission into a new medium if the wave a) changes speed b) strikes a boundary obliquely (not perpendicular)
Examples of different media of refraction: glass, air, water

Rules:
-If speed decreases at interface, then the wave bends toward the normal
-If speed increases at interface, the wave bends away from normal

Absolute index of refraction- the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the medium. (dimensionless) Symbol= n

Equations:

n2=v1=λ1
n1 v2 λ2

n=c/v

Example:
What is the speed of light in water?

c= 3.0x10⁸ m/s
n=1.33

n=c/v

1.33=3.0x10⁸ m/s / v

v=2.25x10⁸ m/s