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Velocities of different colors of light in a medium.
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Post by
ASHelmy
Ok, so, according to my physics teacher, every color of light has a different absolute refractive index (for one medium). And since the refractive is Velocity in the first medium divided by the velocity of the second medium, that must mean that the velocity of different colors is different.
I read on wikipedia (I think), that microscopically the velocity of light is always c, in any medium, it is just different macroscopically due to many emissions and absorptions. So maybe the reason that a certain color is slower is because it is absorbed more? I don't know, anyway, why are the velocities different?
Post by
240135
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
ASHelmy
its the wavelength, not the velocity of the wave, i.e. the photon in particle form has to move faster in order for the wave to move at a constant speed as the frequency and wavelength change.
What's the difference between the speed of the photon and the speed of the wave?
Edit: but if the waves are moving at the same velocity, they should still have the same index.
Edit 2: fail grammar :D.
Post by
74218
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
MyTie
This is right. It isn't the speed of the light wave, just the number of oscillations in a given distance. Picture it like a sound wave. A deep sound travels just as fast as a high pitched sound. The difference is the 'shape' of the waves.
Post by
Lusky
Is it black or blue that is the absence of color?
I heard it's blue once and heard people get in an argument over it before, isn't it black?
Post by
ASHelmy
Is it black or blue that is the absence of color?
I heard it's blue once and heard people get in an argument over it before, isn't it black?
Black, and I do understand what frequency and wavelength are, it's just that the teacher says that different color have different indexes, and different indexes= different velocities.
Edit: Diffraction is caused by a change of velocity.
Post by
Lusky
Am I going to have to take these classes in my junior/senior years?
Post by
119742
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
MyTie
I think I see the problem. Do you have 'velocity' and 'speed' confused?
Post by
Lusky
Yes.
Balls.
This stuff seems very interesting though, can't wait. :)
Post by
ASHelmy
I think I see the problem. Do you have 'velocity' and 'speed' confused?
Nah. A change in the refractive index must mean a difference in velocity, get what I mean now?
Post by
MyTie
I think I see the problem. Do you have 'velocity' and 'speed' confused?
Nah. A change in the refractive index must mean a difference in velocity, get what I mean now?
I think so... a lot of these discussions lead me to
this
.
Post by
304197
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
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