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The speed of light (usually denoted c) is a physical constant. Its value is exactly 299,792,458 metres per second, often approximated as 300,000 kilometres per second or 186,000 miles per second. It is the speed of electromagnetic radiation. (such as radio waves, visible light, or gamma rays) in a vacuum, where there are no atoms, molecules, or other types of matter that can slow it down.
The actual speed at which light propagates through transparent materials, such as glass or air, is less than c. The ratio between c and the speed v at which light travels in a material is called the refractive index, n of the material (n = c / v). For example, for visible light the refractive index of glass is typically around 1.5, meaning that light in glass travels at c / 1.5 ≈ 200,000 km/s; the refractive index of air for visible light is about 1.0003, so the speed of light in air is very close to c.
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Which is faster the speed of sound in air or the speed of light in air?
Speed of light in air ~ speed of light in vavuum = 3,00 *10^8 m/s speed of sound in air ~ 330 m/s. Speed of light is faster than sound in air
How do the speed of light and the speed of sound compare through air?
The speed of light through air at sea level is roughly881 thousand times the speed of sound.
How is the speed of light and speed of sound related?
The speed of light is about 900,000 times as fast as the speed of sound in air.
How you calculate the speed of light in water?
Assuming the speed of light in air is already known (it is close to the speed of light in a vacuum), you might check how the light refracts when it changes from air to water (at what angle), and then use Snell's Law.
What does speed change when a ray of light leaves air and enters a piece of glass?
The speed of light slows down ... in general, the denser the material, the lower the speed of light. (For example : air to water to glass.) The maximum speed is in a vacuum.
What is the cause for the flickering of objects when seen through hot air?
The speed of light changes if the density of medium changes. In hot air, the density is less so due to the change in speed of light, we think that it is flickering.
Which is faster the speed of sound in air or the speed of light in air?
Speed of light in air ~ speed of light in vavuum = 3,00 *10^8 m/s speed of sound in air ~ 330 m/s. Speed of light is faster than sound in air
Seeming as the speed of sound in air speeds up if the temperature rises therefore how hot would you have to heat the air up until the speed of sound through that air is equal to the speed of light?
It never would. Sound is vibration through some physical medium; the speed of sound is related to the speed of the vibrations. No physical medium can move at the speed of light, so the speed of sound could never get there.
Is the speed of light slower in air or in a vacuum?
Speed of light is max. in vaccum and slower in air.
How do the speed of light and the speed of sound compare through air?
The speed of light through air at sea level is roughly881 thousand times the speed of sound.
Why is hot air light?
Hot air is "light" (less dense) because the atoms of the gas are moving faster
Why light is refracted as it moves from air into glass?
That's related to the fact that the speed of light in glass is slower than the speed of light in air.
How is the speed of light and speed of sound related?
The speed of light is about 900,000 times as fast as the speed of sound in air.
Average speed of a hot air balloon?
It is the average speed of the wind.
What is the formula for calculating the air speed of a hot air balloon?
Velocity = Distance/Time for most all movement problems While the above formula is true for most movement problems, air speed is not a velocity. Air speed is speed of an aircraft relative to the surrounding air. The air speed of a hot air balloon is always zero because it is not moving through the air.
When a ray of light passes from water to air speed increases?
Yes. The speed of light in water is approximately 2/3 the speed of light in air.
Does light speed up or slow down when it leaves water into the air?
The speed of light in air is almost but not quite the same as its speed in vacuum,whereas its speed in water is about 25% less.So when light passes from air into water, its speed drops by about 25% .
