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Wave Optics

Question
CBSEENPH12038325

Monochromatic light of wavelength 589 nm is incident from air on a water surface. What are the wavelength, frequency and speed of (a) reflected, and (b) refracted light? Refractive index of water is 1.33.

Solution

Given, 
Wavelength of monochromatic light, λ = 589 nmSpeed of light, c = 3 × 108 m/sRefractive index, μ = 1.33

(a) For reflected light,
Wavelength is going to remain the same for incident and reflected light. 
Wavelength, λ = 589 nm = 589 × 10-9m
Frequency of light, v = cλ                                     = 3 × 108589 × 10-9                                      = 5.09 × 1014Hz.
Speed of lightwill remain invariant in two media.
Therefore, v = c = 3 × 108 m/s 

(b) For refracted light, 
Refractive index of water w.r.t. air,   μωa = vavω 

i.e.,                                                 μωa = vaλavωλω
                 va = vω
So, wavelength of light 

λω = λaμωa = 589 × 10-91.33                       = 4.42 × 10-7m
                          
As frequency remains unaffected on entering another medium, therefore, 
           νω = νa = 5.09 × 1014 Hz 

Speed,
              v' = vaμω = 3 × 1081.33     = 2.25 × 108 m/s.  

i.e., speed of the light has decresed when it entered the second medium.