What is the quickest way for light to get from point A to point B? The speed of light varies with the medium through which it travels. The quickest route through any one medium is a straight line segment. The only question is where on the boundary should the refraction point be? In this sketch, let x be the horizontal distance from A to the refraction point. Time is distance divided by speed.
The time will be minimized where the derivative of time with respect to x is zero.
This last equation is a version of Snell’s Law. If light (or anything else) conforms to Snell’s Law, then it must be taking the quickest path.
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Last update: August 3, 2011 ... Paul Kunkel whistling@whistleralley.com
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