Question

reason for dispersion of light using fermat principle..

Answer 1

had the interface not been there in between, lets say light, with velocity c, in time t, would have travelled a distance d = ct

now there is dispersion,
speed of V or v_v is less that v_r (red light)

according to fermat's principle, the time taken is same for each to reach the same plane.

now lets consider a plane (which i shall include in my next diagram) parallel to while light one.

red light we all know has a greater speed, thus in same time, it'll travel a greater distance as compared to violet ,, but owing to fermat principle, they reach the plane together, hence, they deviate from their path in such a way to do that..

if they had moved on the same path, violet would have lagged behind, which fails fermat's principle..

Answer 2

what i want to ask through all this is that,,

can above be treated as a satisfactory enough reason for dispersion ?

Answer 3

one reason ofcorse i know is snells law, including velocity and angles..i just want to know if this one can be a reason ?

Answer 4

@CliffSedge ?

Answer 5

It's certainly related. Fermat's principle (as well as I can understand it) is due to destructive interference of waves, and the photons' interactions with electrons. Higher frequency light interacts more frequently and is refracted more.

Answer 6

well i dont know that much to be frank! :P

in layman language ? can this thing be a reason for the bending of light ?