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The speed of light through a solid will depend on its refractive index. Water ice has a refractive index (RI) of 1.31 and so light will travel at a speed of 228,850,000 metres per second. Germanium has a RI approx 4 and so the speed of light is 74,950,000 metres per second. Then there are opaque solids and the speed of light through these is 0.


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9y ago
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8y ago

The speed of light varies, depending on the specific material. Both in water and in many glasses, the speed of light is about 2/3 of the speed of light in a vacuum. But in other materials, the speed of light may vary.

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8y ago

The answer depends on the solid.In glass (pyrex) it is approx 204,000,000 metres per second.

In heavy flint glass its speed falls to 156,000,000 metres per second.

In diamond it is 124,000,000 metres per second.

In lead, for example, it is 115,000,000 metres per second but it does not travel very far before it is stopped through absorption.


Also, in some crystals the speed of light depends on the direction of travel.


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8y ago


The speed of light in any material is always less than the speed of light in vacuum.
The specific number depends on the substance, and is different for every substance.

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6y ago

The answer depends on the refractive index of the solid.

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Q: What is the speed of light through a solid?
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Related questions

If a solid mass travels at the speed of light and it passes through the suns ray to earth would it be seen?

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Where is the speed of light greater than the speed of light in water?

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