Physics quiz question: frequency of light, in different media

Physics 205B Quiz 1, spring semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Cf. Giambattista/Richardson/Richardson, Physics, 2/e, Problem 22.19(b)

Red laser light of wavelength 633 nm in air passes either into man-made fused quartz (index of refraction 1.459), or into natural crystalline quartz (index of refraction 1.544). In which material would the red laser light have the higher frequency?
(A) Fused quartz.
(B) Crystalline quartz.
(C) (There is a tie.)
(D) (Not enough information given.)

Correct answer: (C)

Frequency f depends on the properties of the source, and is independent of the properties of the medium (i.e., different speeds due to different indices of refraction).

Section 30882
Exam code: quiz01pL2r
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 21 students
(D) : 0 students

Success level: 72%
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.50