Velocity of light and temperature of medium

AI Thread Summary
The velocity of light is influenced by the temperature of the medium, primarily through changes in the index of refraction. While the effect is more pronounced in the microwave regime due to significant changes in permittivity, it can also be observed in the optical regime, albeit with challenges in measurement. Temperature variations are crucial in specific applications, such as the Auger Observatory, where air temperature impacts the collection of Cerenkov light from high-energy particles. Although the relationship between temperature and light velocity is acknowledged, quantifying it in a straightforward formula remains complex. Overall, temperature does affect light propagation, but the measurable impact is often subtle.
spidey
Messages
213
Reaction score
0
do velocity of light changes in hot or cold medium(air or water)...if it changes,wat is the reason for that change...wat effect the temperature of medium has on velocity of light?
 
Science news on Phys.org
The temperature can affect the index of refraction, but I expect that the effect is too small to have been measured.
 
pam said:
but I expect that the effect is too small to have been measured.

I guess it depends on what one means by "light". The temperature dependence is definitely quite easy to see in the microwave regime, the permittivity changes a LOT for some materials which in turns affect e.g. the properties of waveguides.
Presumably it should be possible to see this effect in the optical regime using e.g. an interferometer, but i guess it would be difficult to distinguish from other effects such as thermal expansion of the resonator itself.
 
The temperature effect is extremely important certain measurements, such as the recently published result from the Auger Observatory collaboration. It makes a lot of difference what the air temperature is when you're trying to collect the cerenkov light that these high energy particles are making as they go through the air. That's why they sample the air temperature often not just throughout the year, but in a day as well.

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
The temperature effect is extremely important certain measurements, such as the recently published result from the Auger Observatory collaboration. It makes a lot of difference what the air temperature is when you're trying to collect the cerenkov light that these high energy particles are making as they go through the air. That's why they sample the air temperature often not just throughout the year, but in a day as well.

Zz.

are there any relation between temperature of medium and velocity of light ...i mean any expression or formula...
 
I was watching a Khan Academy video on entropy called: Reconciling thermodynamic and state definitions of entropy. So in the video it says: Let's say I have a container. And in that container, I have gas particles and they're bouncing around like gas particles tend to do, creating some pressure on the container of a certain volume. And let's say I have n particles. Now, each of these particles could be in x different states. Now, if each of them can be in x different states, how many total...
Thread 'Why work is PdV and not (P+dP)dV in an isothermal process?'
Let's say we have a cylinder of volume V1 with a frictionless movable piston and some gas trapped inside with pressure P1 and temperature T1. On top of the piston lay some small pebbles that add weight and essentially create the pressure P1. Also the system is inside a reservoir of water that keeps its temperature constant at T1. The system is in equilibrium at V1, P1, T1. Now let's say i put another very small pebble on top of the piston (0,00001kg) and after some seconds the system...

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
888
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
93
Views
5K
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
16
Views
5K
Back
Top