Question on the properties of light

In summary, according to Feynman, the speed of rotation of the amplitude arrow of the probability of reflections of light is very fast (1 followed by 15 zeros) and is determined by the frequency of the light, which is calculated by dividing the speed of light by the wavelength of the light. This speed is independent of both the wavelength and the material the light is in.
  • #1
edguy99
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I have been listening to Feynmans lectures at http://www.vega.org.uk/video/programme/46 on the properties of light.

At around minute 21, he talks of the speed of rotation of the amplitude arrow of the probability of reflections of light. He mentions it is very fast along the lines of 1 followed by 15 zeros but does not give any specifics.

My question: does this speed (or rate of rotation) depend on the wavelength of light (ie blue spins faster or slower then red) or the material it is in (glass vs air vs water say) and/or how is it calculated?

Thank you
 
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  • #2
. The speed of the amplitude arrow of the probability of reflections of light is independent of both the wavelength of light and the material it is in. This speed is usually referred to as the angular frequency, which is given by the formula ω = 2πf, where f is the frequency of the light. The frequency of light is calculated by dividing the speed of light (c) by the wavelength of the light (λ). So, the angular frequency is given by ω = 2π(c/λ).
 
  • #3
for bringing up this interesting topic! The speed of rotation of the amplitude arrow of light does indeed depend on both the wavelength of light and the material it is in. This is because the speed of light, and therefore the frequency of the light, changes depending on the medium it is traveling through. This phenomenon is known as refraction.

In terms of calculating the speed of rotation, it can be determined using the equation v = fλ, where v is the speed of light, f is the frequency, and λ is the wavelength. This equation shows that as the wavelength decreases (as in the case of blue light), the frequency increases, resulting in a faster rotation of the amplitude arrow. Additionally, the speed of light in different materials can be calculated using the refractive index of the material.

It is also worth noting that the speed of rotation of the amplitude arrow is closely related to the polarization of light. Polarized light has a specific orientation of its electric and magnetic fields, which affects the rotation of the amplitude arrow.

Overall, the speed of rotation of the amplitude arrow is a fascinating aspect of light and is influenced by various factors such as wavelength, material, and polarization. Further research and experimentation can provide a deeper understanding of this phenomenon.
 

1. What is the speed of light?

The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum.

2. What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, and more.

3. How does light behave as a wave?

Light exhibits properties of a wave, such as diffraction and interference, as it travels through space.

4. What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency of light?

Wavelength and frequency of light are inversely proportional - as the wavelength increases, the frequency decreases, and vice versa.

5. What is the dual nature of light?

Light has both wave-like and particle-like properties, known as the wave-particle duality. This means that light can behave as either a wave or a particle, depending on the experiment being conducted.

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