A wave created by a certain source travels from medium 1 into another medium 2.

Question

A wave created by a certain source travels from medium 1 into another medium 2. It is noticed that its velocity is faster in medium 2 than in medium 1. Three students are discussing what happens to the properties of the wave as it moves into medium 2. Student 1: The frequency of this wave increases as this waves moves into medium 2 in order to keep the equation of the velocity of a wave valid. Student 2: No, the frequency of the wave will remain the same as it is only dependent on the source, it will be the wavelength that will increase in order to keep the equation of the velocity of a wave valid. Student 3: No, you are both wrong. Both parameters will adjust in order to keep the equation of the velocity of a wave valid. Which of these students, if any, do you agree with? Justify your response with words and/or equations.

Explanation / Answer

Only student 2 is correct.

It is true that the frequency of a wave purely depends on its source and is independent of the medium it travels.

Now, as the wave travels from one medium to another the effective pathlength changes in the other medium. In simple words, the wavelength changes and since the product of wavelength and frequency is speed, and frequency is constant, the change in wavelength results in the change of the speed.

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