Is the value of c ( speed of light ) is constant ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the constancy of the speed of light, denoted as c, particularly in relation to its behavior in different media such as vacuum, glass, and water. Participants explore the implications of this constancy and the conventions used in physics to denote the speed of light in various contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that c is the speed of light in a vacuum and is invariant, not depending on the motion of the source or observer.
  • Others clarify that the speed of light in non-vacuum media is not constant and is typically represented as c/n, where n is the index of refraction.
  • There is a discussion about the arbitrary nature of symbols in physics, with some participants noting that different texts may use different conventions for denoting the speed of light in various media.
  • One participant expresses confusion about the information presented in the forum compared to their educational materials, questioning why there seems to be a discrepancy.
  • Several participants agree that while c is a constant value for light in a vacuum, light traveling through other media does so at a slower speed, leading to the assertion that c itself does not change.
  • There is a repeated inquiry about whether the speed of light increases or decreases when passing through different media, with responses indicating that it decreases and cannot increase.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that c represents the speed of light in a vacuum and that light travels slower in other media. However, there is disagreement regarding the conventions used in different texts and the implications of these conventions on understanding the speed of light.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the symbols used for the speed of light may vary across different educational resources, which could lead to confusion regarding their meanings. Additionally, the discussion highlights the importance of context when interpreting equations and symbols in physics.

kevinsetiono
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is the value of c is constant , although the light through other media , like glasses or water or vacuum ?
 
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c is the speed of light in a vacuum. That value is an invariant: it doesn't depend on how fast the source or the observer is moving.
 
...and, to clarify, the speed of light through non-vacuum media isn't constant, but usually isn't written c either.
 
Not written as c ! what is it written as?... do you mean it has to have a suffix like 'a' for air, 'g' for glass etc?
 
Do remember that the symbols are arbitrary symbols given to certain constants. What it's written as probably varies.
 
so you can use whatever you want in physics?
our books have c as the speed of light. We have even found that c is being used as the normal speed symbolk for waves.
Why is it that information given here is usually the opposite of what we do in school
 
Well, I did say "usually". Not all books use the same conventions, so maybe your books use a different convention than other books use. Sometimes even in the same book the same symbol is used with different meanings. So it's important to read the words that accompany the equations as well as the equations themselves. And if you are reading several different books you need to check whether they use the same symbols or not.
 
Emilyjoint said:
Not written as c ! what is it written as?... do you mean it has to have a suffix like 'a' for air, 'g' for glass etc?

The speed of light through any particular medium is usually written as [itex]c / n[/itex], where [itex]n[/itex] is the index of refraction of the medium.
 
Emilyjoint said:
so you can use whatever you want in physics?
our books have c as the speed of light. We have even found that c is being used as the normal speed symbolk for waves.
Why is it that information given here is usually the opposite of what we do in school

Your book is most likely talking about the speed of light in a vacuum. That is what c stands for. In a medium light does not travel at c, so you cannot use it unless you say 0.9c or whatever it's velocity is in that medium.
Edit: (Or c/n as steely dan pointed out)
 
  • #10
so , the c will be change if light walk through some media , will it increased or decreased ?
 
  • #11
kevinsetiono said:
so , the c will be change if light walk through some media , will it increased or decreased ?

It decreases, it can't increase. c is the speed limit.
 
  • #12
kevinsetiono said:
so , the c will be change if light walk through some media , will it increased or decreased ?

The constant c has a specific value equal to the speed that light travels in a vacuum. Light traveling through a medium does not travel at c but at a slower velocity. c never changes, it is a constant.
 

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