What is the need to find the speed of light ?

[aaeushsingh]

What is the need to find the speed of light in a specific medium ?
How will knowing that light travels at 0.723c in gelatin going to help us ?
not just gelatin but any medium in general

 

[Suraj M]

To find the refractive index?
To judge the optical density?

 

[phinds]

What is the need to find the speed of light in a specific medium ?
How will knowing that light travels at 0.723c in gelatin going to help us ?
not just gelatin but any medium in general

Who says there IS a need? If you find something discussing finding the speed of light in a medium that same discussion is likely to include some indication of WHY there is a usefulness to finding it.

I guess basically what I'm asking is, what is the point of your question?

 

[lychette]

if you are interested in physics you want to determine as much as possible.
What is the charge on an electron? Are they all the same?
What is the force between 2 masses a certain distance apart
These, and more, are the basis of physics knowledge
Keep looking and hope that you find an anomaly. Then you are a star

 

[UncertaintyAjay]

And, why does there need to be a need. Why can't it just be a matter of wanting to know?

 

[ZapperZ]

And, why does there need to be a need. Why can't it just be a matter of wanting to know?

Try to get funding with that kind of a reason.

Zz.

 

[UncertaintyAjay]

Haha. Luckily I'm too young for that. But yeah, i suppose if i want a career in physics, I'll need to think of good reasons.

 

[Khashishi]

One obvious reason is to find out the refraction angles at the surface. The index of refraction is the most important parameter in making a lens.