Question

4 in the diagram below the index of refraction of the air surrounding the prism is 1.00. The index of refraction of the prism for green-
blue light is 135 What must be true about the index of refraction of the prism for violet light?

A. The prism's index of refraction for violet light is greater than 1.35

B. The prism's index of refraction for violet light is equal to 1.35

C. The prisms index of refraction for violet light is less than 1.35

D. Nothing can be determined about the prism's index of refraction for violet light.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The prisms index of refraction for violet light is less than 1.35

Explanation:

The index of refraction, also called the refractive index, is a value calculated by the comparison of the movement of the light in two different environments.

Specifically, the index of refraction can be defined by

$n=\frac{c}{v}$

Where $n$ is the refractive index, $c$ is the speed of the light in free space and $v$ is the speed of the light inside the medium.

However, the most important characteristic of this equation is the relation between $n$ and $v$, notice that they are inversely proportional. In other words, when the frequency increases, the refractive index decreases; when the frequency decreases, the refractive index increases.

Now, we know that green-blue light has lower frequency than violet light, which means the refractive index for violet light is gonna be less than 1.35, which is the index for green-blue light.

Therefore, the right answer is C.