Energy Node said:New to the forum. In discussing the speed of light, will photons vary in speed when light is bent? Black holes, magnetic fields, atmospheric refraction, other phenomena capable of bending light changes photon direction, which should in turn slow photons. Educate me...
Energy Node said:I don't believe FAQ's are intended to dismiss any discussion of a similar subject. FAQ's can also provoke further discussion.
Various mediums do slow photons. But what part of physics deals with photons traveling faster than the speed of light in a vacuum? The speed of light should be limitless, and the vacuum of space itself is a restrictive barrier.
It would be like our perception of how fast a 69' Mustang with a 351 engine can go. Since speed is relative, it is measured against relative barriers. The speed of a Mustang on Earth will max out when energy output = resistance. But the Mustang is already moving as fast as the planet.
ZapperZ said:Er.. obviously, you didn't learn anything from the FAQ. Photons are NOT slowed down by the medium. Photons still move at c in between interaction/scattering with the medium!
Zz.
Ramael said:Actually the speed of light does slow in a medium. If not, we wouldn't be able to observe refraction. The speed of light in water for example is 1.36:1, 1 being the speed of light. In glass the index of refraction can go up to 1.8 or 1.9, and diamond is 2.5. Not only does light slow in a medium, but different wavelengths slow to different speeds when in said mediums, this is how chromatic dispersion occurs, as different wavelengths of light change to different velocities when passing between the different refractive indexes, and exit at different trajectories. A common example in nature is called a rainbow.
Energy Node said:Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light since c is the limit velocity that any energy can traverse, which would include massless photons. However, a recent study suggests that c itself may alter in a curved spacetime, however this still would not technically exceed the speed of light as light would still be traveling at c within the curved space. There are a couple dozen observable phenomenon in the universe that seem to violate c by exceeding light speed, all of which exist under special circumstances.
There are a couple dozen observable phenomenon in the universe that seem to violate c by exceeding light speed, all of which exist under special circumstances.
The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second, or about 670,616,629 miles per hour. It is the fastest known speed in the universe and is often denoted by the letter "c" in scientific equations.
Photons, which are the particles that make up light, have no mass and therefore can travel at the speed of light. They do not experience the same resistance as objects with mass do, allowing them to move at such high speeds.
Yes, light can be bent or refracted when it passes through different mediums with varying densities. This is why a straw may appear to be bent when placed in a glass of water, as the light is refracted when passing through the water.
Einstein's theory of relativity states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. This means that the speed of light is constant and cannot be exceeded, even when light is bent or refracted.
The bending of light has significant implications for our understanding of the universe, as it allows us to observe objects and phenomena that would otherwise be invisible due to their distance from Earth. This includes being able to see distant galaxies and black holes, and study the behavior of light in extreme conditions such as near the event horizon of a black hole.