What occurs as a ray of light passes from air into water?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When light moves from air into water, its speed changes due to the different optical densities of the media. 
Option 1: 'The ray must decrease in speed' — This is correct because water has a higher refractive index than air, causing light to slow down as it enters the denser medium. 
Option 2: 'The ray must increase in speed' — This is incorrect; since water slows light compared to air, the speed cannot increase on entering water. 
Option 3: 'The ray must decrease in frequency' — This is false because the frequency of light remains constant when crossing a boundary; only the speed and wavelength change, not the frequency. 
Option 4: 'The ray must increase in frequency' — This is also false for the same reason: frequency stays the same across the boundary, so it cannot increase. 
In summary, the key effect at the air-to-water boundary is a reduction in speed (and wavelength) while frequency remains unchanged.

What occurs as a ray of light passes from air into water?单项选择题

类似问题

Light refracts when traveling from air into glass because light

A ray of light passes from air into glass at an angle. What happens to the direction of the light ray?

Refaction is when…

What happens to light when it passes through a prism?

Refraction results from differences in light's

When a light wave enters a medium with a different refractive index,

A straight glass rod appears to bend when placed in a beaker of water. What is the best explanation for this phenomenon?

更多留学生实用工具

智能学习助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单