quantizedzeus said:It makes no sense to me that if the speed of light is always c...then in different mediums why this speed changes...?? I may have got it in a wrong way...But can anyone help me out in detail...(thanks)
quantizedzeus said:It makes no sense to me that if the speed of light is always c...then in different mediums why this speed changes...?? I may have got it in a wrong way...But can anyone help me out in detail...(thanks)
danR said:Seems perfectly natural to me. But don't just say the speed changes. It only gets slower in a medium.
But the fact is that light is constantly absorbed and re-emitted in a medium. The light that goes out isn't the light that came in.
When a light-particle bangs into the electron cloud in an atom in a medium, it dies and is disappeared, and an impostor steals its clothes and runs out the same direction a bit later. Everyone is fooled. Even the cops.
Keyur said:Speed of light is slower in all mediums except VACUUM.
v=frequency x wavelength
v changes but wavelength doesn't.
as v changes this causes refraction when light enters a different medium.
danR said:Seems perfectly natural to me. But don't just say the speed changes. It only gets slower in a medium.
But the fact is that light is constantly absorbed and re-emitted in a medium. The light that goes out isn't the light that came in.
When a light-particle bangs into the electron cloud in an atom in a medium, it dies and is disappeared, and an impostor steals its clothes and runs out the same direction a bit later. Everyone is fooled. Even the cops.
piroman said:If the light bulb is in the midle of the room and you turn it on the light reaches south wall same time as north wall. Does that mean you multiply the speed of light times 2?
The speed of light is a fundamental physical constant that represents the speed at which light travels in a vacuum. It is denoted by the letter "c" and has a value of approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s).
The first successful measurement of the speed of light was conducted by Danish astronomer Ole Rømer in the late 17th century. He observed the moons of Jupiter and noticed that their orbital periods varied depending on their distance from Earth, which he attributed to the finite speed of light.
According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the speed of light is a constant in a vacuum and cannot vary. However, there have been some experiments that suggest the speed of light may change in certain situations, such as in the presence of a strong gravitational field.
Scientists use a variety of methods to study the potential variations in the speed of light. This includes measuring the speed of light in different mediums, such as air or water, and using high precision equipment to detect any changes in the speed of light.
If the speed of light were to vary, it would have significant implications for our understanding of the universe and the laws of physics. It could also potentially lead to new technologies and innovations. However, more research and evidence is needed before any conclusive statements can be made about variations in the speed of light.