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Anithadhruvbud
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Is it because that there are less molecules within one unit volume in rarer medium that light is able to travel through it easier?
Welcome to PF Anitha!Anithadhruvbud said:Is it because that there are less molecules within one unit volume in rarer medium that light is able to travel through it easier?
Thanks a ton! I clearly understood the reasonAndrew Mason said:Welcome to PF Anitha!
Light travels more slowly in any medium otheraman a vacuum. It is rather complex, actually. There is a very good FAQ on this.
AM
Light travels through different mediums by interacting with the particles of the medium. In optically rarer mediums, the particles are more spread out, allowing light to travel faster.
An optically rarer medium is a substance that has a lower refractive index, meaning the speed of light is faster in that medium compared to other mediums.
The speed of light is inversely proportional to the refractive index of a medium. This means that as the refractive index decreases, the speed of light increases.
Light travels faster in optically rarer mediums because there are fewer particles to interact with, reducing the amount of time it takes for light to pass through the medium.
The speed of light in optically rarer mediums allows it to travel in a straight path, as there are fewer particles to cause refraction or scattering. This is why light appears to travel in a straight line through air or vacuum.