Concept explainers
The speed of light in a medium of index of refraction
Show that the actual path is not necessarily one of minimum time. Hint: In the diagram,
(a) Are the same length as the actual path if C D is an ellipse with
(b) Are longer than the actual path if C D is a line tangent at
(c) Are shorter than the actual path if C D is an are of a curve tangent to the ellipse at
(d) Are longer on one side and shorter on the other if C D crosses the ellipse at
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Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 9 Solutions
Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences
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