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What is Physics Good For?

Warming up on... Light

This assignment is due before 9 AM, Monday, October 29^th, 2007.

Please type your last name and first initial (e.g., Rader, A):

Please type a nickname: (in case your answer gets used in class).

The following questions refer to the material you were to read in preparation to the lesson. Please write a three or four sentence response to each of the questions.

You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses, click the SUBMIT HOMEWORK button at the bottom of this page.

WarmUp questions are worth 4 points each towards your "WarmUps" score (100 points total).

1.

The picture shows light travelling horizontally until it reaches the surface of a prism in the shape of an equilateral triangle. What is the angle of incidence of the light on the surface (as defined in chapter 34)? Will the light be reflected at the surface? Will it be refracted?

2.

A beam of light with wavelength 450 nm does one lap in a swimming pool (underwater). How long does this take? What would the wavelength of this light be if it travelled in air?

3.

In your own words, explain what conditions are necessary for total internal reflection (TIR) to occur.

4.

Polaroid sunglasses have lenses which are both dark and polarized. Which of the lenses in the picture is correctly polarized for use in sunglasses? Why is is done this way?

Below is a space for your thoughts, including general comments about today's assignment. What was hard or confusing (or cool)? What would you like to spend extra time on in class? Do you see how this subject fits in with the others we have discussed?

You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses click the SUBMIT button.

This site is made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation (DUE-9981111).

This assignment is due before 9 AM, Monday, October 29th, 2007.

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This assignment is due before 9 AM, Monday, October 29^th, 2007.