Linked Questions
20 questions linked to/from Looking for the actual reason of refraction explained precisely without analogies
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Reflection and refraction of light [duplicate]
When a light ray strikes an interface a part of it gets reflected, a part of it gets absorbed while another part gets refracted. Why does light reflect? Why does it refract?
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Proof of Snell's law [duplicate]
Snell's law states that $n_1 \sin i = n_2 \sin r$ where $i$ is the angle of incidence, $r$ is the angle of incidence and the refractive index, $n = \frac{c}{v}$ where $v$ is the velocity of the light ...
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Conceptual understanding of deviation of light ray and change of speed in the phenomenon of refraction [duplicate]
I was wondering exactly why a ray of light changes direction when moving from one optical medium to another. I need a conceptual explanation of the above statement or why the Snell's Law is valid. I ...
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What property of medium is directly related to light propagation speed in that medium? [duplicate]
Refractive index is used to calculate phase velocity of light in medium, other than vacuum. Recently I had a discussion with somebody claiming that light is slower due to magnetic field of atoms.
I ...
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What really causes light/photons to appear slower in media?
I know that if we solve the Maxwell equation, we will end up with the phase velocity of light being related to the permeability and the permittivity of the material. But this is not what I'm ...
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What is the mechanism behind the slowdown of light/photons in a transparent medium?
So light travels slower in glass (for example) than in a vacuum. What causes light to slow down? Or: How does it slow down? If light passes through the medium, is it not essentially traveling in the "...
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How can muons travel faster than light through ice?
When a neutrino traveling through ice hits and interacts with an oxygen atom, muons are created.
Cherenkov radiation can be created when muons travel through ice faster than light and create a ...
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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 ...
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Why Does Snell's Law use Sine Instead of Angle Values? [closed]
I recognize that Snell's Law relates indices of refraction and the angles of incidence and refraction, but why does the equation use sine to describe those angles and not simply angle values? It would ...
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Are photons inside the media massive? If yes, why there is no Meissner effect?
We all know the photon in vacuum travels with speed $c$, hence its rest mass has to be 0. In the media the light speed $v<c$. Then the photon renormalized by the medium (call it "quasi-photon&...
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Are Fresnel Equations with Complex Indices and Angles always valid?
This question-answer pair came after i was asked the following question and realized i had to do some research of my own to answer it fully, and to be sure that the answer is „yes“, in the sense ...
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Why does light travel slower in water relative to vacuum?
First of all read till the end. Do not mark as duplicate before finishing. The answer to the question above is that photons interact with molecules in the water which takes some time causing the net ...
user147133
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Does sound wave refraction obey Snell's law?
The question is as stated in the title. I am not sure if the Snell's law for light is derived using any property which is true only for light but not for sound.
So suppose the wavelength of sound ...
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How to get the direction of bending light?
When light passes from a more dense to a less dense substance, (for
example passing from water into air), the light is refracted (or bent)
away from the normal.
My question, is there any theory ...
user58143
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Is the Math That Enlightening? [closed]
I am a 61 year retired guy who truly is captivated with understanding the questions in physics. My primary interest in EM, visible light and the rest of the spectrum. It's not a fad. I have always had ...
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What causes refraction of light? [duplicate]
Time and again, I've been told that the change in the velocity of light makes it bend at the interface between two different media. But is there any explanation as to why that change occurs? Or is it ...
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Is refraction of light a thermodynamic process?
Is refraction of light a thermodynamic process?
Can it be explained by conservation of energy?
If so, does temperature has an effect on refraction of light?
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The property of transparent lens [closed]
My question is this : what is the property of transparent material that is used for lens?. I think that it allows the light to pass through ( absorption property) and does not bend the light ( ...
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How does light manage to change its course at the boundary of two media of different optical densities?
This is a conceptual question. I already know the law of refraction but I need something like an idea of the Physical process from both particle and wave theory standpoints.
Why does a ray of light ...
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Can anyone explain the relationship between the refractive index, the speed, wavelength and angle of a wave?
Can anyone explain the relationship between the refractive index, the speed, wavelength and angle of a wave?
in my book is states that $$n = \frac{v_1}{v_2} = \frac{\sin θ_1}{\sin θ_2} = \frac{λ_1}{...
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