Medium Differences in Light Characteristics

[NonTraditional3]

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Hi all,

Can't seem to figure this out one:

What changes and what is conserved when light enters a medium with a different index of refraction?

Velocity changes.....decreased in a medium with higher index of refraction, increased in medium with lower index of refraction...

Wavelength.....

Frequency......


Could someone please fill me in on the last two, and why they (conceptually) are changed?

Thanks!

 

[grapepopsicle]

When light enters medium of greater index of refraction:
Velocity decreases
Wavelength decreases
Frequency stays the same. Frequency is ONLY affected by the source itself. It doesn't change.

 

[pure skill]

I think of it as knowing that frequency (v) is directly proportional to energy (E) as in the Planck-Einstein equation:

E = hv

If v changed when the index of refraction changed, we could create energy by sending light through a series of lenses with different refractive indexes. This would solve all of the world's energy problems. So clearly it cannot change, and therefore, wavelength must change in order for velocity to change. Velocity can change because we aren't constantly in a vacuum but rather going through different mediums. The pure ridiculousness of this thinking allows me to keep it straight in my head. Hope it helps.

 

[Fivo]

When light enters medium of greater index of refraction:
Velocity decreases
Wavelength decreases
Frequency stays the same. Frequency is ONLY affected by the source itself. It doesn't change.

Oh yeah buddyyy..... +1 for 6/21