CameraIcon
CameraIcon
SearchIcon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

Explain the principle behind optical density.


Open in App
Solution

Step 1:Optical Density:

  1. The speed of transmitted light depends upon the properties of the medium.
  2. The speed of the transmitting electromagnetic wave depends upon the optical density of that specific material through which it passes.
  3. The optical density is totally different from the physical density which is equal to mass by volume ratio while the optical density is said to be the sluggish tendency of the absorbing atoms of the material.
  4. The sluggish tendency shows the maintenance of absorbed energy of electromagnetic radiation in the form of vibrating electrons before the remittance of the new electromagnetic disturbance.
  5. The high value of optical density of the material lowers the movement of waves through the material.
  6. The vibrating electric charge is utilized to create an electromagnetic wave or a light wave.

Step 2: Speed of Light in a medium

  1. The speed of the wave in the vacuum or empty space is 3x108m/s.
  2. When the wave passes through a particle of matter then the absorbed energy set electrons within the atoms into vibrational motion.
  3. If the resonant frequency of vibration of electron and electromagnetic wave frequency aren't correlated, then the energy is remitted.
  4. The remitting of energy is in the form of an electromagnetic wave that has an identical frequency to the first wave and it travels with the speed of the wave in a vacuum.
  5. All the photons behave as a bundle of electromagnetic energy which travels in the void with the speed of wave in a vacuum.
  6. Thus, the net speed of an electromagnetic wave in other media than a vacuum is smaller than the speed in a vacuum.

Step 3: Optical density in terms of refractive index

  1. The optical density of a material is indicated by the index of refraction value of the material.
  2. The Index of refraction values refers to the numerical index values.
  3. The index of refraction value of a material is indicated by the number of times the speed is slower than a light wave in that material than during a vacuum.
  4. The value of the index of refraction is different for the various medium.
  5. The speed of transmitted light is slower within most optically dense materials than the less dense materials.
  6. Thus, with the rise in the index of refraction value, the optical density increases which decreases the speed of light in that material.

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Playing with Refractive Index
PHYSICS
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon