If the refractive index of a thin film is greater than that of the surrounding medium, what happens to the phase of the reflected wave?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
If the refractive index of a thin film is greater than that of the surrounding medium, what happens to the phase of the reflected wave?
No phase change
Phase change of π
Phase change of 2π
Phase change of λ/2
When light reflects off a medium with a higher refractive index, it undergoes a phase change of π (180 degrees).
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: If the refractive index of a thin film is greater than that of the surrounding medium, what happens to the phase of the reflected wave?
Solution: When light reflects off a medium with a higher refractive index, it undergoes a phase change of π (180 degrees).
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what a refractive index is. It measures how much light bends when it enters a material.
Step 2: Identify the two mediums involved: the thin film and the surrounding medium.
Step 3: Compare the refractive indices of the thin film and the surrounding medium. If the thin film has a higher refractive index, it means light travels slower in the film than in the surrounding medium.
Step 4: Recall the behavior of light when it reflects off a surface. If light reflects off a medium with a higher refractive index, it experiences a phase change.
Step 5: Recognize that this phase change is π (180 degrees), which means the wave is inverted upon reflection.
