Why do electromagnetic waves travel slower in other mediums?

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SUMMARY

Electromagnetic waves travel slower in various mediums due to differences in refractive indices, which are defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in that medium. The refractive index varies with frequency, leading to phenomena such as dispersion, where different wavelengths experience different speeds. This is particularly evident in the visible spectrum, where light separates into its constituent colors when passing through a prism. Understanding these principles is crucial for applications involving optics and wave propagation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic spectrum
  • Knowledge of refractive index
  • Familiarity with wave properties (wavelength, frequency)
  • Basic principles of optics and light behavior
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of refractive index in various materials
  • Study the phenomenon of dispersion in optics
  • Learn about the speed of light in different mediums
  • Explore applications of electromagnetic wave behavior in technology
USEFUL FOR

Students, physicists, optical engineers, and anyone interested in the behavior of light and electromagnetic waves in different mediums.

DarylMBCP
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Hi guys, I'm not rlly sure why certain electromagnetic waves (in the electromagnetic spectrum) travel slower in other mediums apart from in a vacuum (all the waves travel at the same speed)? I tried to search this and found out tht the wavelength of waves decreases when in a denser medium like water but does this mean tht the wavelength decreases by a different amount for each wave, if not, the speed of all the electromagnetic waves will be the same due to speed = wavelength x frequency?
 
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Hello Daryl,the refractive index of a medium =speed in vacuum/speed in medium=wavelength in vacuum/wavelength in medium.Generally speaking different frequencies have different refractive indices so I think that in general the answer to your question is yes.This seems to be true for the visible part of the spectrum,hence the phenomenom of dispersion, but whether there are other parts of the spectrum or other media where dispersion does not happen I do not know.
 
Ok, I get it. Thnks for the help.
 

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