Light travels from glass into air - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 14 - 2016

As light transitions from glass to air, the following changes occur:

1. Speed: The speed of light increases as it moves from a denser medium (glass) to a less dense medium (air). This is because light travels faster in less dense materials.

2. Frequency: The frequency of light remains constant during this transition. The frequency is determined by the source of the light and does not change when traveling between different media.

3. Wavelength: Since the speed of light increases while the frequency remains the same, the wavelength must also increase. This is described by the equation:

   $c = f imes \lambda$

   where $c$ is the speed of light, $f$ is the frequency, and $\lambda$ is the wavelength. Thus, when speed increases and frequency stays constant, the wavelength increases.

Therefore, the row that accurately represents these changes is option E: speed increases, frequency stays constant, and wavelength increases.