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GR8677 #3
Problem
 GREPhysics.NET Official Solution Alternate Solutions

Electromagnetism$\Rightarrow$}Wave Equation

Simply and elegantly stated: $\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial^2 \phi}{\partial t^2}=\frac{\partial^2 \phi}{\partial x^2}$. (One can check this by noting that the dimensions cancel out to $meters^{-2}$ on both sides.) Now, $c=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\epsilon_0 \mu_0}}$. Elsewhere than a vacuum, it's $v=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\epsilon \mu}}$, where, in this problem, we have $\epsilon=2.1\epsilon_0$ and $\mu=\mu_0$.
\par
No need to narrow the choices down. (D) is right because $v=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2.1 \times 1 \epsilon_0 \mu_0}}=\frac{c}{\sqrt{2.1}}$, where the last equality comes from substituting the definition of the speed of light (via an epsilon and a mu).

Alternate Solutions
 swimjk892010-03-21 11:31:13 I'm not sure if I am right here, but according to (http://www.microwaves101.com/encyclopedia/phasevelocity.cfm) $v_pv_g=\frac{c^2}{\epsilon_R\mu_R}$ where $\epsilon_R$ and $\mu_R$ are the relative permittivity and permeability. Since $v_p = \frac{c}{\sqrt{\epsilon_R\mu_R}}$ these two equations would imply for this problem that $v_p=v_g$. I think that this would make sense if dealing with monochromatic light.Reply to this comment
Comments
ernest21
2019-08-10 03:09:38
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fredluis
2019-08-08 12:47:54
You have a typo in your explanation. I\'m not the greatest speller but I think in the fourth paragraph, second sentence, it should be \"affect\" instead of \"effect\". carpet cleaner
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tHulk
2012-05-19 10:45:19
What is this equation called for $v =\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu \epsilon}}$? I can't seem to find it in any of my text books.
 tHulk2012-05-19 11:11:20 Oh I see it comes from Maxwell's equations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell's_equations#With_neither_charges_nor_currents
livieratos
2011-11-07 07:30:34
hmm you got me confused... i thought the speed of an em wave was always the phase velocity. what does group velocity have to do with anything?
swimjk89
2010-03-21 11:31:13
I'm not sure if I am right here, but according to (http://www.microwaves101.com/encyclopedia/phasevelocity.cfm)

$v_pv_g=\frac{c^2}{\epsilon_R\mu_R}$

where $\epsilon_R$ and $\mu_R$ are the relative permittivity and permeability. Since

$v_p = \frac{c}{\sqrt{\epsilon_R\mu_R}}$

these two equations would imply for this problem that $v_p=v_g$. I think that this would make sense if dealing with monochromatic light.
 swimjk892010-03-21 11:32:29 I forgot to say this means the answer would be (D)
rehab
2009-10-27 18:13:50
the answer must be (B )otherwise groub velocity will exceed the speed of light from this realtion vp=c^2/vg and that ,of course, impossible!!rn
 flyboy6212010-11-09 20:07:51 The relation $v_p v_g = c^2$ does not always hold.
 ngendler2015-10-20 21:54:15 The group velocity can exceed the speed of light. Information is carried only at the phase velocity. For example, consider the following scenario: you shine a laser at the moon, and move the point to the right. If you measure the \"speed\" of the laser point, you might get a value greater than the speed of light, but that\'s okay because no new information was transmitted.
smokwzbroiplytowej
2008-10-22 19:18:33
Not _exactly_ related to this problem, but Wikipedia has a nice applet showing the difference between group and phase velocity:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_velocity

 Albert2009-10-31 02:46:00 Yo all, that link ain't no good no more! Check out this hot baby: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave#Phase_velocity_and_group_velocity
blue_down_quark
2008-08-02 09:10:29
I think the answer is incorrect. The question doesn't ask 'what is light's velocity ?' it instead asks 'what is light's PHASE VELOCITY? '. Phase velocity can actually be larger than c . The equation for phase velocity is $v_p$$v_g$ = $c^2$ . I think the correct answer is B . for more information see : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_velocity
 wangjj01202008-08-20 20:59:02 but when is the equation v_pv_g = c^2 valid? To integrate this equation, we realize that only when the light propagate in the air and wave guide (or plasma) have the dispersion relation which corresponds to this equation.
 zaijings2009-04-03 08:22:28 I am also confused when the problem asks about the phase velocity.
 segfault2009-08-22 21:06:49 I think when dealing with a signal of a single frequency (e.g., blue light), it only makes sense to talk about the phase velocity--you can't construct a "group" or wavepacket out of a single frequency signal.
 jchys2010-02-02 20:38:17 If you look at the section carefully, it says that "any particle that has MASS (according to special relativity) phase velocity of matter waves always exceeds c" photons obviously has no mass.
 alemsalem2010-09-20 03:51:17 the refractive index is always defined in terms of v_p and it's equal to (Ke * Km)^0.5 where Ks are the relative permittivity and permeability.
 misbah2014-12-05 02:13:46 i agree with kittle 's book view
erc
2005-11-04 09:11:07
I don\'t know anything about this, so maybe about to make a fool of myself...

But, to be consistent, I think the $c^2$ and $v^2$ should each lose the power?

Thanks.
 yosun2005-11-04 15:10:14 erc: thanks for the typo note. The extra squared sign on the c's and v's have been removed. (you can also check it by dimensional analysis. the units for permeability and permittivity are given on the table of info included with the exam)
erc
2005-11-04 09:09:06
 rehab2009-10-27 18:30:09 the answer must be (B )otherwise groub velocity will exceed the speed of light from this realtion vp=c^2/vg and that ,of cource, impossible!!

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