why does wave length of light change during refraction but frequency remain constant?
Answer Hello Awais, The wave length, we use the Greek letter lambda, changes because the speed of light changes in the refracting medium. There are 3 parameters: wave length, speed of light, and frequency that share a relationship described by formula. Before I show you the formula, remember that relationship between frequency, f, and period, T, is T = 1/f Now I will give you the formula that relates the wavelength and speed of light to period and then I’ll do the same with frequency instead of period. It turns out that it might be slightly easier to understand with the period in the formula. The 2 forms are lambda = v*T and lambda = v/f where lambda is the wavelength and v is the speed of light in whatever medium the light is going through. I’m talking about light here but actually, these 2 formulas work for any wave — sound for example. Now, about why frequency remain constant. Let me say the light is going into a prism for simplicity. Consider a point P just inside the prism where
