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Fermat's principle is of least time rather than of least distance. Would least distance apply for reflection? For refraction? Why are your answers different?

asked
User Shawjia
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1 Answer

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Answer:

Fermat's principle states that the path taken by a ray between two given points is the path that can be traversed in the least time.

Thus this least distance being the same as least time will only apply to reflection alone because in reflection light travels In the same direction so least distance will also mean least time. But for refraction light travels in different mediums at different speeds so least distance and least time paths will definately not be the same

answered
User Choz
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