Lightspeed fast, then slowed, then fast again.

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of light speed and its apparent slowdown when passing through matter. It is explained that light always moves at "c" but appears to slow down due to absorption and reemission by matter. The conservation of energy is also mentioned.
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I was reading material on light speed and have a question about something I thought may contradict Newtons law of conservation of energy.

Light slows down as it passes through water, glass etc.. right? But when it reaches the other side it continues at light speed. Where is it getting its energy/power supply to continue back at its normal speed? Whats happening here? :eek:
 
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It ALWAYS MOVES AT "c"...It's just that matter absorbs it & reemits it and that's why the apparent "slowdown" due to presence of matter...

Daniel.

P.S.Energy is conserved.
 
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ahh, thanks.
 
  • #4
it never stops moving at "c" :D just the matter makes it slow down, but the nergy is used the same :D
 
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I can provide an explanation for this phenomenon. The slowing down of light as it passes through a medium such as water or glass is due to the interaction between the light and the atoms or molecules of that medium. This interaction causes the light to be absorbed and re-emitted multiple times, resulting in a slower overall speed.

However, once the light exits the medium, it continues at its original speed because it is no longer interacting with the atoms or molecules. The energy of the light is not affected by this interaction, so it does not need a power supply to regain its original speed.

This phenomenon does not contradict Newton's law of conservation of energy. The energy of the light remains constant throughout its journey, it is just being temporarily stored and then released by the medium. This is similar to how a ball will slow down when rolling through a thick liquid, but will regain its speed once it exits the liquid.

It is important to note that the speed of light is a fundamental constant of the universe and cannot be changed or altered. It is only the interaction with different mediums that can affect its apparent speed. I hope this explanation helps to clear up any confusion.
 

1. What is lightspeed and how does it relate to this phenomenon?

Lightspeed is the speed at which light travels in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. In this phenomenon, an object is moving at this speed and then experiences changes in its velocity, resulting in a fluctuation in its speed.

2. Why does an object initially move at lightspeed and then slow down?

This could be due to various factors such as external forces acting on the object, changes in the object's surroundings, or the object encountering resistance or obstacles that cause it to decelerate.

3. How does an object regain its lightspeed after slowing down?

This can happen through different mechanisms such as the removal of external forces or obstacles, the object entering a different environment with less resistance, or the object itself adapting and increasing its speed through its own propulsion or energy sources.

4. Are there any known examples of this phenomenon in real life?

Yes, there are several examples of this phenomenon in nature, such as pulsars which emit beams of light at regular intervals but can also experience changes in their rotation speed, or particles in accelerators that can reach near lightspeed and then slow down when colliding with other particles.

5. Could this phenomenon have any practical applications?

Yes, this phenomenon has been studied and applied in various fields such as astrophysics, particle physics, and engineering. Understanding the changes in velocity and speed can help in designing more efficient and accurate systems, and also aid in predicting and analyzing natural phenomena.

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