A plane electromagnetic wave travels through a block of transparent plastic

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Electricity, Magnetism & Electromagnetism · Electromagnetic waves and their propagation · Electromagnetic waves and their propagation

Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetism, Ch Plane electromagnetic waves: polarisation, energy flux and radiation pressure

Problem

A plane electromagnetic wave travels through a block of transparent plastic. The plastic is a linear, non-conducting medium with relative permittivity

\varepsilon_r = 2.25

and relative permeability

\mu_r = 1.00

at the frequency used. Take the speed of light in vacuum as

c = 3.00\times10^{8}\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}

. ((a)) Find the refractive index

n

of the plastic. ((b)) Find the speed

v

of the wave in the plastic.

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