Question

I read in various places that frequency does not change with medium. Instead, wavelength changes in different mediums due to a change in speed. I understand why speed changes with medium, but I'm not sure why wavelength changes but not frequency?
. Why do the frequency of tuning fork remain same?

Answer 1

The energy of the light is related to the frequency; when the light enters the medium there are interference patterns that cause the apperent speed of light to change; if the frequency changed, the energy would not be conserved. The wavelength changes to balance the change in speed.

Frequency of tuning fork Only changes if any of the below quantities change.

• Tine stiffness
• Tine length
• The force with which it's struck
• Density of the surrounding air
• Temperature of the surrounding air