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What is the difference between the speed of light in a material and in a vacuum?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
The speed of light in a vacuum, called c (celerity) is a constant at 300 000 km/sec.
In another material, it will be significantly slower. Perhaps as low as 0.5. These 'high refractive glasses' are of immense value in optics and lanthanum is one of the rare earths that are used. Seldom does the refractive index exceed 2.0 however.
The speed of light in a vacuum is taken as 1.0 (by definition), and the refractive index is the (speed of light in vacuo) / (speed of light in the substance).
Organic liquids have values greater than 2.0, and are used with cover glasses in microscopy - the 'oil immersion lens' application.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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The average speed of light is greatest in?
The velocity of light travelling through a material relates to the index of refraction of that material. In this group, air has the lowest index of refraction, follow by water, fused quartz, and crown glass. This means like travels the fastest through air, then water, then fused quarts, and finally glass.
What is materials index of refraction?
It's (the speed of light in vacuum)/(the speed of light in the material) .
What is the materials index of refraction?
It's (the speed of light in vacuum)/(the speed of light in the material) .
How does light change speed from glass to air?
In glass, light will go somewhat slower than in a vacuum. Air is almost like a vacuum, with respect to the speed of light - some difference still exists, though.In glass, light will go somewhat slower than in a vacuum. Air is almost like a vacuum, with respect to the speed of light - some difference still exists, though.In glass, light will go somewhat slower than in a vacuum. Air is almost like a vacuum, with respect to the speed of light - some difference still exists, though.In glass, light will go somewhat slower than in a vacuum. Air is almost like a vacuum, with respect to the speed of light - some difference still exists, though.
What speed does light travel through transparent objects?
It varies, depending on the material. Typical speeds are about 2/3 the speed of light in a vacuum. Search for a table of "index of refraction" for different materials. If a certain material has an index of refraction of 1.5, that means the speed of light in that material is 1.5 times slower than in a vacuum, so you calculate 300,000 km/sec divided by 1.5 = 200,000 km/sec (where the first speed is the speed of light in a vacuum, and the second is the speed of light in the particular material).
If the speed of light in a vacuum is 1.2 times that of the speed of light in a given material what is the index of refraction for that material?
2 (no units)
In which materials is the velocity of light greatest?
A vacuum, so no material
What is the difference between sound and visiblle light in transmission?
Sound will propagate through any matter, but not a vacuum, light will propagate through a vacuum, but only through transparent matter.
What material refracts the most?
Light does not refract via a single material. Refraction occurs when light passes from one material into another of a different density. It is the amount of difference in densities that causes the refraction. The greater the difference the greater the refraction. I believe that the densest material would be diamond, so light passing through a diamond and into a vacuum would seem to be the greatest difference, causing the greatest refraction.
What can light travel in?
Light can travel in a vacuum or in any transparent material
Ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a material?
The index of refraction.
The average speed of light is greatest in?
The velocity of light travelling through a material relates to the index of refraction of that material. In this group, air has the lowest index of refraction, follow by water, fused quartz, and crown glass. This means like travels the fastest through air, then water, then fused quarts, and finally glass.
What is materials index of refraction?
It's (the speed of light in vacuum)/(the speed of light in the material) .
What is the materials index of refraction?
It's (the speed of light in vacuum)/(the speed of light in the material) .
How does light change speed from glass to air?
In glass, light will go somewhat slower than in a vacuum. Air is almost like a vacuum, with respect to the speed of light - some difference still exists, though.In glass, light will go somewhat slower than in a vacuum. Air is almost like a vacuum, with respect to the speed of light - some difference still exists, though.In glass, light will go somewhat slower than in a vacuum. Air is almost like a vacuum, with respect to the speed of light - some difference still exists, though.In glass, light will go somewhat slower than in a vacuum. Air is almost like a vacuum, with respect to the speed of light - some difference still exists, though.
What happens to speed of light from vacuum to glass?
The speed of light is greatest in vacuum, and somewhat less in any material medium. The exact number depends on the individual material. They're all different.
If the speed of a light in a vacuum is 1.5 times that of the speed of light in a given material what is the index of refraction for that material?
1.5 no units (APEX)
