Question: Light will always take the shortest time between two points, not the shortest distance ( this is known as Fermat's Principle ) . Explain how

Light will always take the shortest time between two points, not the shortest distance (this is known as Fermat's Principle). Explain how these two things can be different, in the case of refraction.
b.) Light passes from air into water. Fill in the following:
The light will ---Select--- slow down speed up stay the same speed; light has a constant speed always. as it passes into the water.
The light will bend ---Select--- towards away from none of the above the normal (of the interface between the materials.)
c.) Light passes from an n=1.5 material into an n=1.3 material. Fill in the following:
The light will ---Select--- slow down speed up stay the same speed; light has a constant speed always. when it enters the second material.
The light will bend ---Select--- towards away from none of the above the normal (of the interface between the materials.)
If the n of the first material was instead 1.7, then the amount by which the light was bent would be ---Select--- less than before more than before the same as before .

Step by Step Solution

There are 3 Steps involved in it

1 Expert Approved Answer
Step: 1 Unlock blur-text-image
Question Has Been Solved by an Expert!

Get step-by-step solutions from verified subject matter experts

Step: 2 Unlock
Step: 3 Unlock

Students Have Also Explored These Related Physics Questions!