Home
Class 12
PHYSICS
Let us list some of the factors, which c...

Let us list some of the factors, which could possibly influence the speed of wave propagation:
(i) nature of the source.
(ii) direction of propagation.
(iii) motion of the source and/or observer.
(iv) wavelength.
(v) intensity of the wave.
On which of these factors, if any, does
(a) the speed of light in vacuum,
(b) the speed of light in a medium (say, glass or water), depend?

Text Solution

Verified by Experts

About speed of light in vacuum :
Speed of light in vacuum is measure experimentally and it is `c=3xx10^(8)m//s` which is now regarded as universa physical constant. It is independent of al the factors mentioned in the statement It is also independent of relative motior between source and observer.
Above points were accomodated as basic postulates in the theory of relativity by Einstein.
(b) (i) Speed of light waves (or sound waves or water waves) does not depend on the type or nature of source. (Its speed depends on the type of medium for its propagation).
(ii) For an isotropic medium, speed of light is same in all the directions (means it does not depend on the direction of propagation).
(iii) Speed of light is independent of relative motion between source and medium but it certainly depends on the relative motion between observer and medium.
(iv) Speed of light in a medium depends on wavelength of light.
(v) Speed of light in a medium is independent of its intensity i.e. whether given monochromatic light beam is dim (less intensity) or bright (more intensity), its speed would be same in a given medium.
Promotional Banner

Topper's Solved these Questions

  • WAVE OPTICS

    KUMAR PRAKASHAN|Exercise SECTION-B QUESTIONS-ANSWERS (Numerical From DARPAN. Based on textbook)|12 Videos
  • WAVE OPTICS

    KUMAR PRAKASHAN|Exercise SECTION-C NCERT Exemplar Solution (Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) )|5 Videos
  • WAVE OPTICS

    KUMAR PRAKASHAN|Exercise SECTION-B QUESTIONS-ANSWERS (NUMERICALS) (Numerical From Textual lllustrations)|11 Videos
  • SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRONICS : MATERIALS, DEVICES AND SIMPLE CIRCUITS

    KUMAR PRAKASHAN|Exercise Section-D : Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (MCQs asked in Competitive Exams)|129 Videos
KUMAR PRAKASHAN-WAVE OPTICS-SECTION-B QUESTIONS-ANSWERS (NUMERICALS) (Numerical From Textual Exercise)
  1. In a double-slit experiment the angular width of a fringe is found to ...

    Text Solution

    |

  2. What is the Brewster angle for air to glass transition? (Refractive in...

    Text Solution

    |

  3. Light of wavelength 5000 Å falls on a plane reflecting surface. What a...

    Text Solution

    |

  4. Estimate the distance for which ray optics is good approximation for a...

    Text Solution

    |

  5. The 6563Å Halpha line emitted by hydrogen in a star is found to be red...

    Text Solution

    |

  6. Explain how Corpuscular theory predicts the speed of light in a medium...

    Text Solution

    |

  7. You have learnt in the text how Huygens’ principle leads to the laws o...

    Text Solution

    |

  8. Let us list some of the factors, which could possibly influence the sp...

    Text Solution

    |

  9. For sound waves, the Doppler formula for frequency shift differs sligh...

    Text Solution

    |

  10. In double-slit experiment using light of wavelength 600 nm, the angula...

    Text Solution

    |

  11. Answer the following questions: (a) In a single slit diffraction exp...

    Text Solution

    |

  12. Answer the following questions: (b) In what way is diffraction from ...

    Text Solution

    |

  13. Answer the following questions: (c) When a tiny circular obstacle is...

    Text Solution

    |

  14. Answer the following questions: (d) Two students are separated by a ...

    Text Solution

    |

  15. Answer the following questions: (e) Ray optics is based on the assum...

    Text Solution

    |

  16. Two towers on top of two hills are 40 km apart. The line joining them ...

    Text Solution

    |

  17. A parallel beam of light of wavelength 500 nm falls on a narrow slit a...

    Text Solution

    |

  18. Answer the following questions: (a) When a low flying aircraft passe...

    Text Solution

    |

  19. Answer the following questions: (b) As you have learnt in the text, ...

    Text Solution

    |

  20. In deriving the single slit diffraction pattern, it was stated that th...

    Text Solution

    |