Light and Electromagnetic Waves - High School Physics
Card 0 of 13
Why is it that photons can move at the speed of light, but other particles cannot?
Why is it that photons can move at the speed of light, but other particles cannot?
Photons can move at the speed of light because they have no mass. Anything with mass can not be accelerated to the speed of light—it takes an infinite amount of energy to do so. We can get very close, but never exactly there.
Photons can move at the speed of light because they have no mass. Anything with mass can not be accelerated to the speed of light—it takes an infinite amount of energy to do so. We can get very close, but never exactly there.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
A ray of light strikes the surface of a pond at an angle of 
to the vertical. If it is moving from air to water, what will be the angle of refraction?
A ray of light strikes the surface of a pond at an angle of
For this problem, use Snell's law: 
.
In this equation, 
is the index of refraction and 
is the angle of refraction to the vertical. Using the values given in the question, we can find the resultant angle of refraction.
Take the arcsin of both sides to find the value of 
.
For this problem, use Snell's law:
In this equation,
Take the arcsin of both sides to find the value of
Compare your answer with the correct one above
A new crystal is discovered with an index of refraction of 
. What is the speed of light in this crystal?
A new crystal is discovered with an index of refraction of
The relationship between speed of light and the index of refraction is:
In this formula, 
is the speed of light in a vacuum, 
is the observed speed of light in the substance, and 
is the index of refraction. We are given the speed of light in a vacuum and the index of refraction, allowing us ot solve for the speed of light in the crystal.
The relationship between speed of light and the index of refraction is:
In this formula,
Compare your answer with the correct one above
A new crystal is discovered. The speed of light inside of this crystal is measured to be 
. What is the index of refraction of the crystal?
A new crystal is discovered. The speed of light inside of this crystal is measured to be
The relationship between speed of light and the index of refraction is:
In this formula, 
is the speed of light in a vacuum, 
is the observed speed of light in the substance, and 
is the index of refraction. We given the values for the speed of light in the crystal and the speed of light in a vacuum, allowing us to solve for the index of refraction.
Plug in our given values and solve.
Note that the index of refraction is a ratio of two velocities, and therefore has no units.
The relationship between speed of light and the index of refraction is:
In this formula,
Plug in our given values and solve.
Note that the index of refraction is a ratio of two velocities, and therefore has no units.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
A certain gas has an index of refraction of 
. What is the speed of light in the gas?
A certain gas has an index of refraction of
The index of refraction is defined as the relationship between the speed of light in a vacuum over the speed of light in the gas/liquid/solid.
We know the index of refraction of the gas, and the speed of light in a vacuum. Using these values, we can solve for the speed of light in the gas.
The index of refraction is defined as the relationship between the speed of light in a vacuum over the speed of light in the gas/liquid/solid.
We know the index of refraction of the gas, and the speed of light in a vacuum. Using these values, we can solve for the speed of light in the gas.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
A beam of light hits a crystal at an angle of 
to the normal. The light is refracted in the crystal and changes to an angle of 
to the normal. What is the index of refraction of the crystal?
A beam of light hits a crystal at an angle of
To solve this problem, use Snell's law:
Remember that air has an index of refraction of 
. Using this value and the given values for the angle of incidence and angle of refraction, we can find the index of refraction of the crystal.
To solve this problem, use Snell's law:
Remember that air has an index of refraction of
Compare your answer with the correct one above
A beam of light hits a crystal at an angle of incidence of 
. If the index of refraction of the crystal is 
, what is the angle of refraction inside of the crystal?
A beam of light hits a crystal at an angle of incidence of
To solve this problem, use Snell's law:
Remember that air has an index of refraction of 
. We know the index of refraction for each material and the initial angle of incidence. Using these values, we can find the angle of refraction.
To solve this problem, use Snell's law:
Remember that air has an index of refraction of
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Light strikes a crystal from the air at an angle of 
to the normal. Inside the crystal, the angle of light is 
to the normal. What is the index of refraction in the crystal?
Light strikes a crystal from the air at an angle of
To solve this problem, use Snell's law:
We are given the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction. The index of refraction for air is 
. Using these values, we can find the index of refraction in the crystal.
To solve this problem, use Snell's law:
We are given the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction. The index of refraction for air is
Compare your answer with the correct one above
A microwave has a wavelength of 
. What is the speed of the wave?
A microwave has a wavelength of
Since a microwave is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, its velocity will be equal to the speed of light:
Any wave on the electromagnetic spectrum will have the same velocity, though their wavelengths and frequencies will vary, defining their individual characteristics.
Since a microwave is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, its velocity will be equal to the speed of light:
Any wave on the electromagnetic spectrum will have the same velocity, though their wavelengths and frequencies will vary, defining their individual characteristics.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
A microwave has a frequency of 
. A gamma ray has a frequency of 
. Which one has a greater speed?
A microwave has a frequency of
Both of these waves are on the electromagnetic spectrum. Any wave on the spectrum will have the same speed, the speed of light.
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, and gamma rays are all on the spectrum. They all have the same ultimate speed, but vary in their wavelengths, frequencies, and energy levels.
Both of these waves are on the electromagnetic spectrum. Any wave on the spectrum will have the same speed, the speed of light.
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, and gamma rays are all on the spectrum. They all have the same ultimate speed, but vary in their wavelengths, frequencies, and energy levels.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The frequency of a particular photon of infrared light is 
. What is the wavelength of the photon?
The frequency of a particular photon of infrared light is
The relationship between wavelength, frequency, and velocity is:
In this case, because infrared light is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, we would use 
for 
.
We are given the speed of light and the frequency of the photon. Using these values, we can solve for the wavelength.
The relationship between wavelength, frequency, and velocity is:
In this case, because infrared light is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, we would use
We are given the speed of light and the frequency of the photon. Using these values, we can solve for the wavelength.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
An electromagnetic wave travels with a frequency of 
. What is the wavelength of the wave?
An electromagnetic wave travels with a frequency of
The relationship between velocity, frequency, and wavelength of a waveform is given by the formula:
In this case, we are dealing with an electromagnetic wave. All electromagnetic waves travel at the same velocity: the speed of light.
Using this value and the given frequency of the wave, we can solve for the wavelength.
Wavelength is traditionally reported in nanometers, corresponding to 
.
The relationship between velocity, frequency, and wavelength of a waveform is given by the formula:
In this case, we are dealing with an electromagnetic wave. All electromagnetic waves travel at the same velocity: the speed of light.
Using this value and the given frequency of the wave, we can solve for the wavelength.
Wavelength is traditionally reported in nanometers, corresponding to
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Radio waves and X-rays are both on the electromagnetic spectrum. Which of the following statements is true?
Radio waves and X-rays are both on the electromagnetic spectrum. Which of the following statements is true?
Any wave on the electromagnetic spectrum will travel at the same constant speed, the speed of light. Each type of wave is determined by changes in the frequency, wavelength, and energy, but these factors always reflect a constant velocity. The types of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum are radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays. Radio waves will have the largest wavelength, smallest frequency, and lowest energy. Gamma rays will have the smallest wavelength, highest frequency, and greatest energy.
The inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength means that the velocity can remain constant.
Any wave on the electromagnetic spectrum will travel at the same constant speed, the speed of light. Each type of wave is determined by changes in the frequency, wavelength, and energy, but these factors always reflect a constant velocity. The types of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum are radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays. Radio waves will have the largest wavelength, smallest frequency, and lowest energy. Gamma rays will have the smallest wavelength, highest frequency, and greatest energy.
The inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength means that the velocity can remain constant.
Compare your answer with the correct one above