Fundamental Properties - GRE Subject Test: Physics
Card 1 of 8
A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
Tap to reveal answer
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because 
, the phase velocity of light in the glass is:
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except 
and 
. The latter is impossible because it is greater than the speed of light in a vacuum, therefore the answer is .
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except
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A monochromatic beam of 
light travels through a material with a phase velocity of 
. What is the refractive index of the material?
A monochromatic beam of
Tap to reveal answer
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index 
is given by:
Solving this for 
and substituting our given value of 
:
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index
Solving this for
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A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
Tap to reveal answer
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because , the phase velocity of light in the glass is:
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except and . The latter is impossible because it is greater than the speed of light in a vacuum, therefore the answer is .
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A monochromatic beam of light travels through a material with a phase velocity of . What is the refractive index of the material?
A monochromatic beam of
Tap to reveal answer
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index is given by:
Solving this for and substituting our given value of :
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index
Solving this for
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A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
Tap to reveal answer
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because , the phase velocity of light in the glass is:
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except and . The latter is impossible because it is greater than the speed of light in a vacuum, therefore the answer is .
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A monochromatic beam of light travels through a material with a phase velocity of . What is the refractive index of the material?
A monochromatic beam of
Tap to reveal answer
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index is given by:
Solving this for and substituting our given value of :
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index
Solving this for
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
Tap to reveal answer
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because , the phase velocity of light in the glass is:
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except and . The latter is impossible because it is greater than the speed of light in a vacuum, therefore the answer is .
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A monochromatic beam of light travels through a material with a phase velocity of . What is the refractive index of the material?
A monochromatic beam of
Tap to reveal answer
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index is given by:
Solving this for and substituting our given value of :
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index
Solving this for
← Didn't Know|Knew It →