To analyze the scenario of a boy looking at fish with small waves in the water, we can infer the type of wave interaction as well as the behavior of light as it transitions between different mediums. Here’s a breakdown of the answers according to the specified parts:
a) Type of wave interaction illustrated (2pts)
The type of wave interaction illustrated in this scenario is refraction. Refraction occurs when light waves pass from one medium to another (in this case, from air to water), causing the waves to bend due to a change in speed. The boy observes the fish underwater, and the appearance of the fish may be distorted because of the bending of light at the water's surface.
b) How the speed of light changes as it changes between air and water (2pts)
The speed of light decreases when it enters water from air. In air, the speed of light is approximately 3.00 x 10^8 meters per second, while in water, it slows down to about 2.25 x 10^8 meters per second. This decrease in speed is primarily due to the increase in density of water compared to air, which affects how light propagates through the medium.
c) What factor(s) cause the difference in speed (2pts)
The difference in speed can be primarily attributed to two factors: density and refractive index.
- Density: Water is denser than air, which means that light interacts more with the medium's particles when traveling through water, slowing it down.
- Refractive Index: The refractive index of a material indicates how much the speed of light is reduced compared to its speed in a vacuum. Water has a higher refractive index (~1.33) compared to air (approximately 1.0003), which means light travels more slowly in water than in air; this results in the phenomenon of refraction as light transitions from one medium to another.
Summary
- The wave interaction modeled is refraction (part a).
- The speed of light decreases as it transitions from air to water (part b).
- The difference in speed is caused by factors such as density and refractive index (part c).