Question

Light travels from medium X into medium Y. Medium Y has a higher index of refraction. Consider each statement below:(i) The light travels faster in X. (ii) The light will bend towards the normal. (iii) The light will speed up. (iv) The light will bend away from the normal. a. (ii) b. (iii) and (iv) c. (i) d. (i) and (ii) e. (ii), (iii) and (iv)

Answer 1

Answer:

i) FALSE,  ii) TRUE,  iii) FALSE, iv)  FALSE

Explanation:

When light (electromagnetic radiation) travels through a material medium, its speed is less than the speed of light in a vacuum. If we define the index of parts

           n = c / v

where v is the speed of light in the material medium.

The direction of the ray can be determined by the law of refraction

          n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂

Let's apply these equations to our case where

          nₓ <n_y

i) The expression of the refractive index

          nₓ < n_y

         $\frac{c}{v_x} = \frac{c}{n_y}$

         v_y <vₓ

therefore the expression is FALSE

ii) If we use the law of refraction, the light, when passing from a medium with a lower start to another with a higher index, must approach the normal one, away from what would be the continuation of the path of the incident ray

so the expression is TRUE

iii) The speed of light is constant in all material media

the statement is FALSE

iv) light approaches normal

Let me clarify that the normal is a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of contact, not the direction of Io.

 the statement of FALSE