Chapter 9: Q14P (page 482)
Use Fermat鈥檚 principle to find the path followed by a light ray if the index of refraction is proportional to the given function
14.
Short Answer
, where and , where is a constant and is the integration constant.
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Chapter 9: Q14P (page 482)
Use Fermat鈥檚 principle to find the path followed by a light ray if the index of refraction is proportional to the given function
14.
, where and , where is a constant and is the integration constant.
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In Problems 5 to 7, use Fermat鈥檚 principle to find the path followed by a light ray if the index of refraction is proportional to the given function.
.
Two particles each of mass m are connected by an (inextensible) string of length I. One particle moves on a horizontal table (assume no friction), The string passes through a hole in the table and the particle at the lower end moves up and down along a vertical line. Find the Lagrange equations of motion of the particles. Hint: Let the coordinates of the particle on the table be r and , and let the coordinate of the other particle be z. Eliminate one variable from and write two Lagrange equations.
Use Fermat鈥檚 principle to find the path followed by a light ray if the index of refraction is proportional to the given function
12.
Write the胃Lagrange equation for a particle moving in a plane ifV=V(r) (that
is, a central force). Use the胃equation to show that:
(a) The angular momentum r脳mvis constant.
(b) The vector r sweeps out equal areas in equal times (Kepler鈥檚 second law).
Show that the actual path is not necessarily one of minimum time. Hint: In the diagram, A is a source of light; CD is a cross section of a reflecting surface, and B is a point to which a light ray is to be reflected. APB is to be the actual path and AP'B, AP"B represent varied paths. Then show that the varied paths:
(a) Are the same length as the actual path if CD is an ellipse with A and B as foci.
(b) Are longer than the actual path if CD is a line tangent at P to the ellipse in (a).
(c) Are shorter than the actual path if CD is an arc of a curve tangent to the ellipse at P and lying inside it. Note that in this case the time is a maximum!
(d) Are longer on one side and shorter on the other if CD crosses the ellipse at P but is tangent to it (that is, CD has a point of inflection at P).
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