Optics and Light: Frequency, Energy & More

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around concepts in optics, specifically focusing on the behavior of light, including its properties such as frequency, energy, and refraction. Participants explore various phenomena related to light, including the photoelectric effect, the formation of images by lenses, and the nature of mirages.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between frequency and energy of light, questioning the correctness of their understanding. They also explore the characteristics of light as it passes through different media, such as air to water and glass to air, and the implications for angles of incidence. The formation of images by converging lenses is examined, with uncertainty about the size and orientation of the images. Additionally, the nature of mirages and the conditions for dark fringes in interference patterns are debated.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights and clarifications regarding the relationships between energy and frequency, while others express uncertainty about specific concepts. There is an ongoing exploration of different interpretations and conditions related to optical phenomena, with no explicit consensus reached on several points.

Contextual Notes

Participants note constraints such as missing information from their textbooks and the complexity of certain optical phenomena, which may affect their understanding and conclusions.

mmg0789
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*Answers may include more than one choice

X-ray, visible light and infared radiation are different from each other because:

--of differing frequencies-i know this is right
--of differing energies--i am not sure as to whether this is right or wrong because from what i understand, different frequencies could lead to different enrgies (blue has more energy than red, etc)
--of differing amplitudes--i know this is wrong
--of differing velociites--i know this is wrong
--they are not all electromagnetic waves---i know this is wrong
------------------

A stained glass window
--refracts light
--reflects light
--transmits light
--absorbs light

i am pretty sure about all of them being right except for transmitting light and refracting it. i think it could refract it because it turns it. i have no idea about transmitting light
-----------------------------------


light goes from air to water; angle of incidence = 30

i think light bends toward the normal because water has a greater index of refraction which slows light
--------------------------

light goes from glass to air; angle of incidence=30

pretty much the opposite of the previous one because it goes from a smaller index of recraction to a greater one
---------------------------------'

light slows down; angle of incidence=30

i don't think there is enough information to conclude whether this goes away or towards the normal
---------------------------------

used to magnify objects--i believe that this is a characteristic of concave mirrors and converging mirrors, but I'm not sure if it is characteristic of diverging mirrors--i believe that this NEVER makes an image larger

--------------------------------
an object inside a focal point of a convering lens forms an image that is

a.upright
b.upside down
c real
d virtual
e larger than the object
f smaller than the object
g the same size as the object

i'm sure it creates an upright and virtual image...but whether it is smaller or larger than the object I'm not sure, because it could be both depending on where it is looked from

-----------------------
the photoelectric effect

a can be used to create electric current
b occurs when light shining on a n emitting surface has a minimum intensity
c occurs when light shinng on an emitting surface has a minimum frequency
d supports the wave theory of light
e supports the particle nature of light

i'm pretty sure that a and b are correct, but i am not sure if e is correct



thank you in advance
 
Last edited:
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In 1. the photons have different energies and frequencies. Energy is proporational to frequency.

In the last one, b is not right and you are missing one of d and e.

AM
 
mmg0789 said:
*




light slows down; angle of incidence=30

i don't think there is enough information to conclude whether this goes away or towards the normal
-------

Note that the speed of light in a medium is equal to c/n. So if light slows down as it goes from a medium A to a medium B, it means that the index of refraction of B is larger than the index of A. That should tell you how to answer the question

--------------------------------
an object inside a focal point of a convering lens forms an image that is

a.upright
b.upside down
c real
d virtual
e larger than the object
f smaller than the object
g the same size as the object

i'm sure it creates an upright and virtual image...but whether it is smaller or larger than the object I'm not sure, because it could be both depending on where it is looked from


thank you in advance
Draw a ray diagram and you will see right away.
 
hi, thanks for the responses, i have 2 more that i am unsure about

a mirage is caused by:
reflection--this is the choice i am unsure about b/c i think it does reflect and refract at the same time but it didnt mention aanything about reflection in my text
diifraction-WRONG
refraction-RIGHT
deflection-WRONG
scattering-WRONG
water-WRONG
-------------------------------

the difference in the path length of the interfering rays at the first order dark is

1/2 wavelength
1
3/2
2
5/2
3

i'm sure the whole numbers are wrong, and I'm sure that 1/2 is right, but i don't know about the other 3/2 and 5/2 because 1/2 is a condition only under the first dark fringe, but w/ the other ones, 2nd..3rd...it increases by an odd number of half wavelength. correct?
 
mmg0789 said:
the difference in the path length of the interfering rays at the first order dark is

1/2 wavelength
1
3/2
2
5/2
3

i'm sure the whole numbers are wrong, and I'm sure that 1/2 is right, but i don't know about the other 3/2 and 5/2 because 1/2 is a condition only under the first dark fringe, but w/ the other ones, 2nd..3rd...it increases by an odd number of half wavelength. correct?

Spot on :smile:

~H
 

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