I have the speed of a light source in plexiglass and I need to find the change in frequency from air to plexiglass and the change in wavelength.
The frequency does not change. There is no waiting line. As many pulses per second travel on both sides of the boundary.
The speed does change.
wavelength = speed * period = speed /frequency
Thank you very much
To find the change in frequency and the change in wavelength when light travels from air to plexiglass, you can use Snell's law and the formula for the index of refraction.
1. Start by determining the index of refraction of plexiglass. The index of refraction (n) is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum (c) to the speed of light in the material (v): n = c/v.
2. Determine the index of refraction of air. In most cases, air has an index of refraction very close to 1, so you can usually assume n = 1 for air.
3. Apply Snell's law, which relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices of the materials: n1sin(theta1) = n2sin(theta2). In this case, since air has an index of refraction close to 1, the formula simplifies to sin(theta1) = n2sin(theta2).
4. From Snell's law, you can infer that the change in angle of incidence and refraction is related to the change in the direction of light passing from one medium to another.
5. Since frequency is constant for light waves in a single medium, the change in frequency can be calculated by dividing the change in the speed of light by the wavelength. The equation is Δf/f = (v1 - v2)/v2.
6. Similarly, the change in wavelength can be calculated by dividing the change in the speed of light by the frequency. The equation is Δλ/λ = (v2 - v1)/v1.
By following these steps, you can find the change in frequency and the change in wavelength when light travels from air to plexiglass.