University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 33 - The Nature and Propagation of Light - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 1104: Q33.3

Answer

See explanation.

Work Step by Step

The passive boundary cannot generate or destroy waves, so the number of wave crests arriving per second must equal the number of wave crests leaving per second. In other words, the wave frequency and period do not change. The wave speed does change. Since the wave speed is the product of frequency and wavelength, it is the wavelength that must vary to change in wave speed.
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