Scottish Highers Physics Refraction of Light: A ray of monochromatic light pas

Question

A ray of monochromatic light passes from air into water.
The wavelength of this light in air is 589 nm.

The speed of light in water is calculated using the relationship between the speed of light in vacuum (or air) and the refractive index of the medium.
The refractive index (n) is given by:

$$ n = \frac{c}{v} $$

where:
- $c$ is the speed of light in air (approximately $3.00 	imes 10^8 \, ms^{-1}$)
- $v$ is the speed of light in the medium (water in this case).

Since the wavelength ($\lambda$) and speed of light relationship is given by:

$$ v = f \cdot \lambda $$

where $f$ is the frequency, and it remains constant when light passes from one medium to another, we can also relate the speed to the refractive index:

$$ v = \frac{c}{n} $$

The refractive index of water is approximately $1.33$. Thus, we can calculate the speed of light in water as:

$$ v = \frac{3.00 	imes 10^8 \, ms^{-1}}{1.33} $$

Calculating that gives:

$$ v \approx 2.26 	imes 10^8 \, ms^{-1} $$

A ray of monochromatic light passes from air into water - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 18 - 2019

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A ray of monochromatic light passes from air into water - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 18 - 2019

The speed of light in water

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