Light in medium, time gets affected?

[A Dhingra]

hi ...
when a ray of light passes through a medium of some refractive index, then due to cancellation of electric fields the speed of light reduces inside the medium as compared to air. with this thought in mind, can we say that, as the speed of light has got reduced , there is something happening to the motion of time inside the medium. either time slows down or becomes faster.
Is that reduce in speed of light affects the time?
( i guess it does not, but i am not sure... so please provide proper reason behind the answer)

thanks

 

[ZapperZ]

Please start by reading the PF FAQ thread in the General Physics forum.

You also need to learn the difference between group velocity, and the velocity of photons in such a medium.

Zz.

 

[A Dhingra]

the explanation about "Do Photons Move Slower in a Solid Medium?" was amazing...

 

[A Dhingra]

where can i get to read about group velocity and its relation to this...

 

[sardar]

for your question. The concept of time and its relationship with light is a complex and fascinating topic in science. While it is true that the speed of light is affected when passing through a medium, this does not necessarily mean that time is affected as well.

First, let's clarify that the speed of light is not actually reduced, but rather it appears to be reduced due to the medium's refractive index. This means that the light is still traveling at the same speed, but it is taking a longer path due to the medium's properties.

Now, let's consider the concept of time. Time is a fundamental aspect of our universe and is often described as the fourth dimension. It is a constant and does not change based on the medium through which light is passing. This means that time is not affected by the speed of light, even if it appears to be slower when traveling through a medium.

To understand this better, let's look at Einstein's theory of relativity. According to this theory, time and space are interconnected and can be affected by gravity and acceleration. However, the speed of light is still considered a constant in all reference frames, meaning that it does not change regardless of the medium or the observer's perspective.

In summary, the speed of light may appear to be reduced when passing through a medium, but this does not affect the fundamental concept of time. Time remains constant and is not affected by the speed of light. I hope this helps clarify your question.