Does the speed of light actually slow down in glass?

In summary, the speed of light does not actually slow down when passing through an object like glass. Instead, the delay is caused by the absorption and reemission of photons by the material, giving the appearance of a slower speed. This phenomenon is beyond the scope of the current syllabus, but there may be websites that explain it in more detail.
  • #1
buddingscientist
42
0
ok I've been wondering about this for awhile

when people say the speed of light slows down when going through an object (ie glass).

does the speed of light actually slow down to 2x10^8 m/s

or does the speed of light actually stay constant at 3x10^8, but the photons collide with the SiO molecules in the glass (or whatever), such that by the time the photons exit the glass, it will have taken 1.5x longer than another photon that totally bypassed the glass and traveled in a straight line


i hope that general question I am asking is clear, thanks
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #2
In materials photons are adsorbed and reemitted, this causes the delay which we interpret as a lower speed of light.
 
  • #3
ahh right.
do you happen to know any websites that explain this?
this is beyong the scope of our syllabus
 

What is the speed of light?

The speed of light, denoted by the symbol c, is a fundamental constant in physics that represents the speed at which electromagnetic waves propagate in a vacuum. In the SI system of units, it is approximately equal to 299,792,458 meters per second.

What is the index of refraction?

The index of refraction, denoted by the symbol n, is a measure of how much a material can bend or refract light. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the material. The higher the index of refraction, the more the material can bend light.

How does the speed of light relate to the index of refraction?

In a vacuum, the speed of light is equal to the speed of light in air, which has an index of refraction of approximately 1. As the index of refraction of a material increases, the speed of light in that material decreases. This is due to the interaction of light with the atoms and molecules in the material, which slows down the light.

What is the relationship between the index of refraction and the angle of refraction?

The index of refraction and the angle of refraction are related by Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction is equal to the ratio of the indices of refraction of the two materials. This law describes how light bends when traveling between materials with different indices of refraction.

How does the index of refraction affect the appearance of objects?

The index of refraction plays a crucial role in determining how objects appear to us. For example, materials with a higher index of refraction, such as water or glass, can bend light more and create optical illusions such as mirages or the bending of a pencil in a glass of water. It also affects the clarity and quality of lenses used in glasses, cameras, and other optical devices.

Similar threads

How does the speed of light change when it enters glass?
    • Optics
Replies
12
Views
2K
Why does the speed of light change in different media?
    • Optics
Replies
4
Views
2K
Refraction of light when traveling from air to glass
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
166
Refractive Index: Light Speed & Distance Perception
    • Optics
Replies
14
Views
3K
Refractive Index: Variations & Formula Proof
    • Optics
Replies
4
Views
2K
Refractive index in the ultraviolet region
    • Optics
Replies
3
Views
1K
Why does light move slower in a more dense medium?
    • Optics
Replies
16
Views
4K
Why does light slow down in glass?
    • Optics
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Speed of information in a medium
    • Quantum Physics
2
Replies
38
Views
2K
B Does a photon's energy change as it refracts?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
4
Views
93

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top