All Questions
Tagged with refraction dispersion
76
questions
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why can't thin clouds form rainbows?
Sunlight easily passes through THIN layers of clouds, composed of small water droplets/vapor, what is the problem accounted by the light rays that they are not able to form a rainbow?
- 401
0
votes
0
answers
37
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Is the relativistic energy-momentum relation fundamental? [duplicate]
The following relativistic energy-momentum relationship is taken to be fundamental:
$$E^2=p^2c^2+m_0^2c^4.\tag{1}$$
Let us specialize to massless particles ($m_0=0$) so that we have:
$$E=p\ c.\tag{2}$$...
- 5,925
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
Can anyone explain the relationship between the refractive index, the speed, wavelength and angle of a wave?
Can anyone explain the relationship between the refractive index, the speed, wavelength and angle of a wave?
in my book is states that $$n = \frac{v_1}{v_2} = \frac{\sin θ_1}{\sin θ_2} = \frac{λ_1}{...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
109
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The speed of light in medium with different frequency
We know that the speed of light in vaccuum can be expressed as $c=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu_0\epsilon_0}}$ and thus the speed of light in vaccuum is thus $$v=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu\epsilon}}=\frac{c}{\sqrt{\...
- 83
0
votes
1
answer
74
views
Let's say I have manufactured a prism from a non-dispersive medium, then light coming from air wouldn't split into colours right?
Let's say I have manufactured a prism from a non-dispersive medium, then light coming from air incident on the prism wouldn't split into colours, right? I mean light still changes direction, but all ...
- 959
0
votes
1
answer
56
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Generally speaking, the speed of a wave depends on the medium and the wave type, so waves of the same type in the same medium attain the same speed [duplicate]
My question is, given the above statement, why electromagnetic waves attain different speeds in media other than vacuum even though they are of the same type and propagate in the same medium?
- 959
10
votes
2
answers
2k
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Is it possible to witness a rainbow while facing the sun?
We know that a rainbow occurs due to the refraction and reflection of light inside raindrops. We also know that inside spherical raindrops total internal reflection is not possible. So some light is ...
- 123
0
votes
0
answers
43
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Why does the green light change to red in the prism? [duplicate]
I know that white light, upon entering another medium from air/ vacuum, disperses into its constituent colours. Essentially when travelling in the air, all of the constituent colours have the same ...
- 1,064
1
vote
2
answers
570
views
Does refraction depend on the colour of light?
Consider passing red and yellow lights separately through the same interfaces and with the same angles of incidence.
Light of which colour will be refracted more?
This question was given to me. All I ...
- 119
33
votes
3
answers
3k
views
A Rainbow Paradox
I was studying the phenomena of the formation of a rainbow. In my book, the following diagram is given:
So, the rays at the red end of the spectrum make a larger angle with the incident ray than the ...
- 1,064
0
votes
1
answer
62
views
Refraction of light with different wavelengths [closed]
A red light and blue light enter a rectangular glass block normal to its surface at the same time. Strictly speaking, after passing through the block, which pulse exits first?
Should I consider their ...
- 13
0
votes
1
answer
140
views
Is there any physical explanation for negative extinction coefficient, $k(E)$, over a spectral range of energies?
Measured data for $n(E)$ of air were fitted to equations for $n(E)$ and $k(E)$. The measured data for n(E) spanned 0.734 to 6.702 eV. To obtain fits to the equations for n(E) and k(E) in the absence ...
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Why does Cauchy's equation for refractive index contain only even power terms?
Cauchy's equation is an empirical relation that defines the refractive index of a material in terms of wavelength:
$$ n(\lambda) = A + \frac{B}{\lambda^2} + \frac{C}{\lambda^4} + ...$$
While I ...
- 727
2
votes
1
answer
365
views
How did Newton explain why a prism bends light rays causing the colors to separate?
We know today that light has wavelike properties. This explains why the rays are bent when they enter the prism. Light slows down when traveling through a medium, as the trough enters the prism before ...
- 121
1
vote
0
answers
134
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Refractive index dispersion relation of stainless steel
I am lookin for the refractive index dispersion relation of stainless steel.
I tried to search for it at https://refractiveindex.info/ and on google but I couldn't find anything.
I mainly need the ...