Which travels more slowly in glass, red light or violet light?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of light in glass, specifically comparing the speeds of red light and violet light. The subject area is optics, focusing on the concept of the index of refraction and its dependence on wavelength.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express differing views on which color travels more slowly, with some suggesting violet and others questioning the premise. There is a discussion about the relationship between wavelength and the index of refraction, indicating a need for deeper understanding of dispersive effects.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various interpretations of the question. Some have provided insights regarding the index of refraction and its wavelength dependence, suggesting a productive direction for further inquiry.

Contextual Notes

There appears to be some confusion regarding the nature of the question, with participants debating whether the question is simply about color or involves more complex optical principles.

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Which travels more slowly in glass, red light or violet light?

Violet...right?

Thanks
 
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zachcumer said:
Which travels more slowly in glass, red light or violet light?

Violet...right?

Thanks

Why? What is your argument?
You need to know how the index of refraction depends on the wavelength, a dispersive effect.
 
what? all the question asks for is a color...
 
they both travel at the speed of light, it's the same
 
themtpeake said:
they both travel at the speed of light, it's the same

The speed of light in the glass is not the same for all wavelengths. The index of refraction is frequency - wavelength dependent, otherwise there would br no spectrum from a prism.
 

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