Questions from Modern Physics

Q: a. A tank containing methanol has walls 2.50 cm

a. A tank containing methanol has walls 2.50 cm thick made of glass of refractive index 1.550. Light from the outside air strikes the glass at a 41.3° angle with the normal to the glass. Find the angl...

Q: The magnetic-field amplitude of the electromagnetic wave from the laser

The magnetic-field amplitude of the electromagnetic wave from the laser described in Example 32.1 (Section 32.3) is about 100 times greater than the earth’s magnetic field. If you il...

Q: Can water waves be reflected and refracted? Give examples. Does

Can water waves be reflected and refracted? Give examples. Does Huygens’s principle apply to water waves? Explain.

Q: Sometimes neon signs located near a powerful radio station are seen to

Sometimes neon signs located near a powerful radio station are seen to glow faintly at night, even though they are not turned on. What is happening?

Q: Fluorescent lights often use an inductor, called a ballast, to

Fluorescent lights often use an inductor, called a ballast, to limit the current through the tubes. Why is it better to use an inductor rather than a resistor for this purpose?

Q: Suppose that a positive point charge q is initially at rest on

Suppose that a positive point charge q is initially at rest on the x-axis, in the path of the electromagnetic plane wave described in Section 32.2. Will the charge move after the wave front reaches it...

Q: Sometimes when looking at a window, you see two reflected images

Sometimes when looking at a window, you see two reflected images slightly displaced from each other. What causes this?

Q: In an L-R-C series circuit, can the

In an L-R-C series circuit, can the instantaneous voltage across the capacitor exceed the source voltage at that same instant? Can this be true for the instantaneous voltage across the inductor? Acros...

Q: A ray of light in air strikes a glass surface. Is

A ray of light in air strikes a glass surface. Is there a range of angles for which total internal reflection occurs? Explain.

Q: You have a special light bulb with a very delicate wire filament

You have a special light bulb with a very delicate wire filament. The wire will break if the current in it ever exceeds 1.50 A, even for an instant. What is the largest root-mean-square current you ca...