Tagged Questions
1
vote
1answer
66 views
Idea of precursors of the electro-magnetic waves
The idea of the material Maxwell equation is almost clear. But I'm curious about the idea that except for material equation the pure Maxwell equation should work, but in harder sense: more currents ...
2
votes
3answers
159 views
Difference in velocity of light in change in medium
It is often seen that according to physics the light changes it's velocity according to the medium through which it is traveling. So can it be explained that why so happen?
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Can anyone explain to me why light is not dispersed into a spectrum through a parallel glass slide, but only through a prism?
The question pretty much sums up what I need to know. Why is it that light only gets dispersed into a spectrum when travelling through two non-parallel sides(like a prism) and not through something ...
1
vote
2answers
51 views
Does the efficiency of radiation change in any way in the presence of a medium?
I've read that radiation doesn't really require a medium. But if you're taking, for example, the sun's light, then does its efficiency of transmission increase or decrease once it reaches the earth's ...
-2
votes
2answers
242 views
About change in velocity of a light wave as it enters a different medium [closed]
$\dfrac {sin\theta1}{sin\theta2}=\dfrac {v1}{v2}=\dfrac {n2}{n1}$
I understand this equation, but what is the velocity of a light wave going through air and what is the velocity/change in velocity as ...
4
votes
2answers
12k views
Why does wavelength change as light enters a different medium?
When light waves enter a medium of higher refractive index than the previous, why is it that:
Its wavelength decreases?
The frequency of it has to stay the same?
1
vote
3answers
381 views
Why does change in speed of a wave make it refract?
When a light wave enters a medium with a higher refractive index (e.g. from air to standard glass) and its speed decreases, why does that make it refract/bend?
I understand that wavelength decreases ...
0
votes
1answer
488 views
reflection, refraction and diffraction occur in radio waves, which one occurs the most?
One of the things about Radio waves is that they undergo different behaviors such as reflection, refraction and diffraction when in contact with obstacles such as walls, buildings etc. what i want to ...
2
votes
1answer
223 views
What happens to speed and frequency of a light beam moving in transparent medium when observed from different inertial frame of reference?
Suppose a transparent medium where speed of light is $c/n$, an inertial frame of reference $K$ which is stationary relatively to the medium and an inertial frame of reference $K'$ which is moving ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Why does light change direction when it travels through glass?
This was explained to me many years ago, by a physics teacher, with the following analogy:
"If someone on the beach wants to reach someone else that is in the water, they will try to travel as much ...
2
votes
0answers
118 views
Modeling a spray painted polyurethane surface reflection
I'm modeling light interaction/reflection from a fiberglass surface with polyurethane epoxy (that is very reflective) that has been spray painted with a matte black paint. I'm looking for some input ...
9
votes
2answers
263 views
Effect of gravitation on light
Einstein predicted that the gravitational force can act on light. This was verified in one solar eclipse that light from a star near to the sun's disc bent due to Sun's gravity as predicted. Since ...
3
votes
1answer
376 views
The Interactions of Light and Matter
So basically, I was trying to find a good answer to the question of how light interacts matter. Namely on the quantum level what causes matter to appear transparent, reflective, opaque, etc
I came ...
4
votes
3answers
432 views
Gravitational lensing or cloud refraction?
My current understanding of gravitational lensing follows
When a star or other massive body passes between us and another star, the phenomenon
generally labeled 'gravitational lensing' occurs. The ...
1
vote
1answer
564 views
What determines how much light is reflected and refracted?
I'm currently working on a physics-based puzzle game with light refraction. I've read about the reflection/refraction incidence ratio, and how it's the proportion of the sine values of the angle of ...
2
votes
3answers
677 views
Reconciling refraction with particle theory and wave theory
I have searched the web for good answers to why refraction occurs when light moves from one medium to another with different density. I have limited background in physics and want to know if there is ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I determine transmission/reflection coefficients for light?
When light rays reflect off a boundary between two materials with different indices of refraction, a lot of the sources I've seen (recently) don't discuss the relation between the amplitude (or ...
