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PHY2049, Final Exam Study Guide,

Spring 2014
1. The index of refraction for silicate flint glass is 1.66 for violet light that has a
wavelength in air equal to 400nm and 1.61 for red light that has a wavelength in
air equal to 700nm. A ray of 700nm–wavelength red light and a ray of 400nm
o
wavelength violet light both have angles of refraction equal to 30 upon entering
the glass from air.
What is the difference between the angles of incidence of the two rays,
n400 − n700 ?
Solution:
∆ θ = θviolet − θred ;
nair sin θviolet,air = nglass sin θrefracted

nair sin θred,air = nglass sin θrefracted →

θviolet,air = arc sin nglass ⋅ sin θrefracted  = arc sin nglass ⋅ sin 30 =

arc sin [1.66 ⋅ 0.5] = 56.09 o

θred,air = arc sin nglass ⋅ sin θrefracted  = arc sin nglass ⋅ sin 30 =

arc sin [1.61 ⋅ 0.5] = 53.61 o →

θviolet − θred ;

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2. A slab of glass that has an index of refraction of 1.50 is submerged in water that
has an index of refraction of 1.33. Light in the water is incident on the glass. Find
0
the angle of refraction if the angle of incidence is 60 .
nwater sin θwater = nglass sin θglass

1.33 ⋅ sin 60 o = 1.50 ⋅ sin θglass →

 1.33 ⋅ sin 60 o   1.33 ⋅ 0.707 

θglass = arc sin   = arc sin   = 50.1567 o
 1.50   1.50 

3. Determine the speed of light in a material whose refractive index n = 1.57.

c
n= →
vmaterial

c 3 ⋅ 10 8 m
s m
vmaterial = = = 1.91 ⋅ 10 8
n 1.57 s

238 −18 1
4. Determine the t 1 of U if the decay constant is 4.87 ⋅ 10 t1 ⋅ λ =
2 s 2
0.693 →
0.693 0.693
t1 = = → seconds
2 λ 4.87 ⋅ 10 −18 1s

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5. If the half life of Cs 137 is 30 years how much time will be required to reduce a 1
kg sample to 1g ?

 N 
ln  = −λ ⋅ t →
 N0 
ln  N  1 
ln  1000
 N0  
t= = → 299years
−λ 0.693
30

+
6. Suppose we have 1000π s at rest. How many π are remaining after 100ns?
+ −9
The half life of a π is 26 ⋅ 10 s.
Solution:
+
The number of π remaining after 100ns is:
  −
0.693 ⋅ 100 
0.693 ⋅ t
N = No exp −  = 1000 ⋅ e  26  = 70.14
 t1 
 2 

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7. Calculate the length of a meterstick that moves with speed 0.80c relative to you
in the direction parallel to the stick.

Lrest
Lmoving =
γ

Lrest
Lmoving = 1
2
1 − v2
c

1m  (0.8 ⋅ c) 2 
Lmoving = 1 = (1m) ⋅  1 − 2 

 c 
(0.8 ⋅ c) 2
1−
c2

Lmoving = (1m) ⋅ √1 − (0.8) 2

–
9. The proper average (or mean) lifetime of a pion is 2.6 ⋅ 10 8s. A beam of
pions has a speed of 0.85c relative to a reference frame. What would be their
mean lifetime as measured in that reference frame?
tmoving = trest ⋅ γ

tmoving =  2.8 ⋅ 10 −8 s  ⋅ γ =  2.8 ⋅ 10 −8 s  ⋅

1
= 5.315 ⋅ 10 −8 s
 2
(0.85c) 
 1 − c2 
Almost twice as long!

10.

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11.

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12.

13.

14.

15.

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