Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 35 - Interference - Questions - Page 1073: 12b

Answer

The reflection phase shift for ray $r_4$ is $~~0$

Work Step by Step

On page 1072, the text states, "If the light incident at an interface between media with different indexes of refraction is in the medium with the smaller index of refraction, the reflection causes a phase change of $\pi$ rad, or half a wavelength, in the reflected wave. Otherwise, there is no phase change due to the reflection." Since ray $r_4$ reflects while it is in the medium with a larger index of refraction, there is no phase shift. The reflection phase shift for ray $r_4$ is $~~0$
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