If the refractive index of a thin film is greater than that of the surrounding m

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Question: 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?

Options:

Correct Answer: Phase change of π

Solution:

When light reflects off a medium with a higher refractive index, it undergoes a phase change of π (180 degrees).

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?

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?

Correct Answer: Phase change of π (180 degrees)

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.

Refractive Index and Phase Change – The refractive index determines how light behaves at the interface of different media, specifically whether it undergoes a phase change upon reflection.