Phase difference after passing through liquid and glass

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 2K views
magnesium12
Messages
18
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Two waves travel next to each other for 100cm.
Wave A passes through a glass container containing liquid. The thickness of the glass in total is 1cm and the width of the liquid is 10cm. The glass has n = 1.52 and the liquid has n=1.33.
Wave B passes through a vacuum and has wavelength 500nm.
Both waves start out in phase. Find the relative phase differences at the finishing line (after 100cm).

Homework Equations


c/n = λv (?)

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm not sure where to start.
I was thinking that the phase difference will be proportional to the difference in time it takes to get to the finish line.
Δφ = Δt
But I have no idea how to find the difference in the time it takes for each wave to get to the end.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
BvU said:
You need to rethink (or look up) your equations. Dimensions don't match in both cases !

So I found this: Δφ/2π = Δt/vo
And then t = c/λ and I find the new wavelength for each section of path B with c/nv and then add up the times?