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Study Guide: Physical Setting / Physics Regents Examinations: Solved Waves Problems Using Equations
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Physical Setting / Physics Regents Examinations: Solved Waves Problems Using Equations

By Fatskills Exam Guides Team — the exam nerds behind 28,500+ quizzes and 2.1M practice questions across 500+ global exams.

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W1. v = fλ

EXAMPLE: The frequency of a wave is 2.0 hertz, and its wavelength is 0.030 meter.


W2.

EXAMPLE: If the frequency of a wave is 0.25 cycle per second, what is the period of the wave?


W3. θi = θr
EXAMPLE: When a ray of monochromatic light strikes a plane mirror, the incident ray makes an angle of 30° with the surface of the mirror. Calculate the angle of reflection for the reflected ray.
Angles of incidence and reflection are measured with respect to a normal drawn to the surface of the mirror. Therefore, the angle of incidence is the complement of 30°, that is, 60°.
θr = θi = 60°

W4.

EXAMPLE: A ray of monochromatic light travels from a vacuum into a material whose index of refraction is 1.4. Calculate the speed of light in this material.


W5. n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2
EXAMPLE: If the angle of incidence in air is 30°, what is the sine of the angle of refraction in crown glass?


W6.

EXAMPLE: If the speed of light in a medium is 1.5 × 108 meters per second, what is the index of refraction of the medium?