Question 147: Ray Optics

Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R
Assertion A: The phase difference of two light waves change if they travel through different media having same thickness, but different indices of refraction.
Reason R: The wavelengths of waves are different in different media.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below

Accepted Answer

Assertion A is correct. When light waves travel through different media with different indices of refraction, the speed of light changes, which in turn changes the phase of the light waves. This is because the phase of a wave is directly related to the distance it has traveled, which in this case is affected by the speed of light in the different media.
Reason R is also correct. The speed of light in a medium is determined by its refractive index. When light enters a medium with a different refractive index, its speed, and therefore its wavelength, changes. This is described by the equation v = c/n, where v is the speed of light in the medium, c is the speed of light in a vacuum, and n is the refractive index of the medium.
Moreover, R is indeed the correct explanation of A. The change in wavelength (and therefore phase) of the light waves in different media (as explained in R) is the reason why the phase difference changes when light waves travel through different media with the same thickness but different indices of refraction (as stated in A).

Answer

Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

Answer

A is correct but R is not correct

Answer

A is not correct but R is correct

Answer

Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A

Ray Optics

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