Light of wavelength 600 nm in air enters a medium in which the index of refraction is 1.73. What is the frequency of this light in the medium?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The frequency of light does not change when it moves from one medium to another; only its wavelength and speed change. The frequency (f) can be calculated using the formula $f = \frac{c}{\lambda}$, where $c$ is the speed of light in vacuum (approximately $3.00 \times 10^8$ m/s) and $\lambda$ is the wavelength in vacuum. Since the wavelength given is 600 nm in air (which can be approximated as vacuum for this purpose), the frequency is $f = \frac{3.00 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s}}{600 \times 10^{-9} \, \text{m}} = 5.00 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz}$.

Light of Wavelength 600 Nm in Air Enters a Medium