Waves and light (conceptual questions)

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Jbum
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[SOLVED] waves and light (conceptual questions)

hey, i have a few conceptual questions related to waves and light.

1. what is the ratio of thickness of crown glass and water that would contain the same number of wavelength of light? (index of refraction for glass = 1.52, and for water, it's 1.33)

i have no idea what this question is asking and even less of an idea of what to do or say. so help in clarifying the question itself is greatly appreciated.


2. explain why light from the two headlights of a car does not produce an interference pattern?

is this a trick question? wouldn't they produce a pattern? however, since the frequency and speed of light is so high and the wavelength so short, the pattern would not be visible?

thanks for the help in advance.
 
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Jbum said:
2. explain why light from the two headlights of a car does not produce an interference pattern?

is this a trick question? wouldn't they produce a pattern? however, since the frequency and speed of light is so high and the wavelength so short, the pattern would not be visible?

You could also discuss the fact that the light coming from the lamps is not in phase. Also could discuss gap width and significant diffraction.
 
yes thank you. i consulted a solution text for those two problems so they are now solved.