answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Radio waves move faster in air.

Radio waves are an example of electromagnetic radiation, just as light is.

Just as materials have an index of refraction for light, they also have an index of refraction for radio waves.

All electromagnetic waves have the same speed in vacuum whether they are radio, light or gamma rays.

The speed of electromagnetic waves in a material is equal to the speed of light in a vacuum divided by the index of refraction for that type of wave. The index of refraction of glass for radio waves depends on the glass but is well above 1 whereas for air, it is more like 1.0001. A similar comparison can be made for visible light.

The index of refraction can, of course, be measured, but for air and glass one expects them to be quite different because there is a huge difference in the densities of the two materials. Air mostly empty space between molecules and so one expects electromagnetic waves to propagate at a speed very close to the speed in empty space.

As a very crude rule, one expects the long wavelength index of refraction for transparent materials to increase when the number of electrons in the medium increases.

Caveat: Statements made here would have to be modified if the energy of the electromagnetic wave were near an energy where it was absorbed by the medium.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Do radio waves move faster in glass than in air?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Do micro waves move faster than the radio waves?

Microwaves ARE radio waves, and they move with the same speed as all other electromagnetic waves.


Where are radio waves faster-earth or space?

Radio waves travel with the highest speed in vacuum, and slightly slower in air. So they move slightly faster in space than on earth.


Which travels faster radio waves or microwaves?

-- Microwave ARE radio waves.-- All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed, including radio, microwaves,heat, infrared radiation, light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, and allthe others.


How much faster does p waves move than s waves?

P-waves move around 3 km/s faster than s-waves.


Can ocean waves move faster than wind?

no


Will a sound wave move faster in winter?

No it will move slower. Waves move faster in warm air and slower in cold air.


Do p waves or surface waves move faster?

No. Surface waves are slower than both P and S-waves.


In sound waves do compression waves move faster than rarefaction waves?

sorta, compressions move at a slightly higher frequency, which is indirectly related to speed.


Under which circumstances do waves move faster?

In deep water


Compared to P waves and S waves do surface waves move slower or faster?

Surface waves move slower. P waves are the fastest. Surface waves are the slowest. they are slowest but most destructive.


How spacewave came back to the earth?

Radio waves are often referred to as space waves because they have the ability to move through space. Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation.


Why person heard the message through the cell phone before they heard it through the air?

Radio waves move at the speed of light, much faster than the speed of sound.