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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: $$E=p\ c.\tag{2}$$...
John Eastmond's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
38 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}{...
dayum's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
91 views

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{\...
Pck Tsp's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Jack's user avatar
  • 959
0 votes
1 answer
50 views

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?
Jack's user avatar
  • 959
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 ...
Al-Ahsan Abhro's user avatar
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0 answers
43 views

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 ...
Golden_Hawk's user avatar
  • 1,066
1 vote
2 answers
536 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 ...
Sahaj's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Golden_Hawk's user avatar
  • 1,066
0 votes
1 answer
59 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 ...
Shreya Gupta's user avatar
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1 answer
137 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 ...
Iris's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Jonathan Huang's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
363 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 ...
Bach's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
0 answers
132 views

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 ...
0 votes
1 answer
51 views

What is the definition of absolute refractive index of a medium?

I know the definition is the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the phase velocity of light in the given medium. Here, which color of light do we consider while calculating the ratio? For ...
Sayn's user avatar
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