MCAT Question A Day - 9/1/13 - Answer!
Glass has an index of refraction of 1.50. What is the frequency of light that has a wavelength of 500 nm in glass?
A. 1.00 Hz
B. 2.25 Hz
C. 4.00 * 1014 Hz
D. 9.00 * l016 Hz
The correct answer is (C). The velocity of light in glass can be found from the definition of refractive index, n = c/v; wavelength and frequency are related to velocity by the general wave relation, v = (wavelength*frequency); therefore:
frequency = velocity/wavelength = c / (n * wavelength)
= (3.00 * 108 m/s) / (1.50)(500 * 10-9 m)
