2007-03-20 18:28:20 · 4 answers · asked by @my 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The wavelength will change as it passes from one material to the other. To calculate the change, you need to know the index of refraction for each material (or alternately, the speed of light propagation in each material). Since the frequency does NOT change, you can calculate the wavelength in both materials: wavelength = speed / frequency.
2007-03-20 18:40:35 · answer #1 · answered by Tom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a complex question. To know exactly what happens, you have to know the index of refraction of the two materials. The index of refraction is the property of a material that determines how light will permeate the material.
At the interface, light that is transmitted into the 2nd media has a contaction or expansion of wavelength proportional to the new index of refraction ....if the index of refraction of the 2nd media is lower, the wavelengths contract upon entering the 2nd media, and vice versa.
Furthermore, reflected light will undergo a 180 degree phase shift if the index of refraction of the 2nd media is lower than the first. This means that if the incident light wave was at a peak, the reflected light will leave in a trough. This phenomenon does not happen when the 2nd media has a higher index of refraction than the first.
2007-03-21 01:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
depending on the substance through which it travels the wave length will either shorten or broaden
2007-03-21 01:31:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It bends.
2007-03-21 01:32:27 · answer #4 · answered by Annette 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋