∙Predict/Calculate When an electromagnetic wave travels from...

Name: Problem 35, Chapter 25: Physics
Uploaded: 2020-02-11T15:32:12-08:00
Duration: 2 min 7 s
Channel: Alex Moore

$\bullet$ Predict/Calculate When an electromagnetic wave travels from one medium to another with a different speed of propagation, the frequency of the wave remains the same. Its wavelength, however, changes. (a) If the wave speed decreases, does the wavelength increase or decrease? Explain. (b) Consider a case where the wave speed decreases from $c$ to $\frac{3}{4} c .$ By what factor does the wavelength change?

$\bullet$ Predict/Calculate When an electromagnetic wave travels from
one medium to another with a different speed of propagation, the
frequency of the wave remains the same. Its wavelength, however,
changes. (a) If the wave speed decreases, does the wavelength increase
or decrease? Explain. (b) Consider a case where the wave speed
decreases from $c$ to $\frac{3}{4} c .$ By what factor does the wavelength change?

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Key Concepts

Wave Speed-Frequency-Wavelength Relationship

This fundamental relationship, expressed as v = f?, connects the speed of a wave (v) to its frequency (f) and wavelength (?). Because the frequency is determined solely by the source of the wave and remains unchanged when transitioning between media, any change in the medium’s properties that affects wave speed must be compensated for by a proportional change in wavelength.

Constancy of Frequency Across Media

When an electromagnetic wave passes from one medium to another, its frequency stays constant. This is because frequency is linked to the source of the wave and is not influenced by the properties of the medium. Thus, variations in the medium’s refractive properties impact only the wave speed and, correspondingly, the wavelength, preserving the relationship defined by v = f?.

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