Does Atmosphere Dilation Affect Sunlight Travel Time? | Explained

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    Atmosphere Dilation
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SUMMARY

Light from the sun takes approximately 8 minutes to reach Earth, and the Earth's atmosphere does not significantly delay this travel time. The troposphere, which is the densest part of the atmosphere, is about 7 miles thick and contains 80% of the atmosphere's mass. Given that this distance is negligible compared to the 90 million miles light travels, any potential delay would be minimal. The refractive index of air is very close to 1, allowing light to travel at over 99% of its speed in a vacuum, confirming that atmospheric effects on sunlight travel time are insignificant.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly light propagation.
  • Familiarity with the structure of the Earth's atmosphere, especially the troposphere.
  • Knowledge of refractive index and its implications on light speed.
  • Basic comprehension of astronomical distances, specifically the distance from the Sun to Earth.
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  • Research the properties of the troposphere and its impact on weather phenomena.
  • Learn about the refractive index of various gases and its effect on light transmission.
  • Explore the principles of light speed in different mediums, including vacuum and air.
  • Investigate the implications of atmospheric conditions on astronomical observations.
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Students of physics, educators in atmospheric science, and anyone interested in the effects of Earth's atmosphere on light travel and astronomical phenomena.

Prasun-rick
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Light from the sun takes about 8 mins to reach the earth. But does the time get delayed appreciably due to Earth's atmosphere??
Thanks in advance !
 
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No.
 
Bystander said:
No.
Can you please elaborate it ?? Thanks btw! :smile:
 
The densest portion of the atmosphere, the troposphere, is roughly 7 miles thick and contains 80% of its mass. Seven miles is an utterly tiny distance compared to the 90 million miles light has to travel to get from the Sun to the Earth, so any slowing effect would have to be extreme in order to have an appreciable effect. However, the refractive index of air is very close to 1, so light's speed through air is still more than 99% of its speed through the vacuum of space. Long story short, there's no significant delay caused by the atmosphere.
 
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:smile:Thanks perfectly clear to me now !
 

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