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Dependence of the speed of sound on the properties of the medium:
The speed of sound is variable and depends mainly on the temperature and the properties of the substance through of which the wave is traveling. For example, in low molecular weight gases, such as helium, sound propagates faster compared to heavier gases, such as xenon. In a given ideal gas the sound speed depends only on its temperature. At a constant temperature, the ideal gas pressure has no effect on the speed of sound, because pressure and density (also proportional to pressure) have equal but opposite effects on the speed of sound, and the two contributions cancel out exactly. In non-ideal gases, such as a van der Waals gas, the proportionality is not exact, and there is a slight dependence on the gas pressure, even at a constant temperature. Humidity also has a small, but measurable effect on sound speed (increase of about 0.1% to 0.6%), because some oxygen and nitrogen molecules of the air are replaced by the lighter molecules of water. Cheers ebs
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThe speed of sound is dependant on both the temperature and the properties of the medium through which it is travelling. In general, the higher the temperature, and the more dense the medium, the faster the speed of sound.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agospeed of light is different in different mediums because each medium has it's own refractive index,due to which speed of light changes in every medium.
As light consists of different colors and each color has it's own speed in different mediums.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoBasically the denser the medium, the slower the light.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoIt is different in medium. It has a high speed in metals.
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How does the speed of sound of change for mediums of different densities compressibilities and temperature?
The speed of sound of change for mediums of different densities compressibilities and temperature because different densities give different resistance to the sound. It blacks more of ht sound the denser the object is,, and give more when the object is less dense.
Speed of light 1.69x108 ms?
The speed of light is 299,792,458m/s (or 3x10^8m/s for general calculations). However, the speed of light could be 1.69x10^8m/s when the light is within a mediums such as glass.
Does the speed of light differ?
The speed of light is different in different media; light travels more slowly in water than it does in air, for example.
Refraction occurs when the speed of light changes as it travels between mediums True or false?
True
Would a eyeglass work if the speed of the light was the same in glass as it is in the air?
No. An eyeglass works by bending light (refraction) to change to focal point into something appropriate for whatever eye condition you have (nearsightedness, farsightedness, etc.). The reason that the light bends is that it obeys something known as Fermat's Theorem. Fermat's Theorem says that light takes the fastest travel path (it minimizes travel time, not travel distance) through any medium. Since the speed of light is different in every medium this means that the fastest path doesn't usually follow a straight line if we change mediums. Since light travels more slowly through glass than air, the path bends, hence the refraction, hence the ability of glasses to fix your eyes. Simply put eyeglasses work precisely because of these two properties: 1) Light has different speeds in different mediums 2) Light always minimizes its total travel time
What is the change in speed called when light travels through different mediums?
It is simply called a change in speed.
What happens to light as it passes through different mediums?
Its speed and wavelength change.
What is the rate of slowing of the speed of light?
The speed of light, c is greatest in a "vacuum" and is slowed when passing through transparent mediums such as water, glass and crystals. Different mediums reduce the rate of c differently, depending on a number of factors.
How does the speed of sound of change for mediums of different densities compressibilities and temperature?
The speed of sound of change for mediums of different densities compressibilities and temperature because different densities give different resistance to the sound. It blacks more of ht sound the denser the object is,, and give more when the object is less dense.
What isThe bending of light as it travels from one medium to the next?
This is called refraction due to differences in the speed of light in the different mediums.
Why light travels in absence of medium?
Cause light is a wave of moving particles (photons) that travel through different mediums but a medium is not needed to produce light, energy is. The speed, frequency and wave length all change with changing mediums. ie when u put a pool net in the water and look down the shaft it looks bent, this is the light entering a diff medium and changing speed and direction.
What is the difference between refracted light and reflected light?
Refraction is the change in direction caused by a speed differential as light travels through different mediums, or temperature/pressure gradients. Reflection is light directly hitting an object and exiting at the same angle at which it hit.
Does light travel further through glass water air or a vacuum?
Further in a given period of time? No. The speed of light is constant in all mediums. The speed of sound, however, which is a physical wave, does change.
When do light waves change speed?
speed of light is different for materials of different refractive index and also higher the refractive index lesser will be speed of light in that medium. so if light travels from rarer to denser medium (with respect to refractive index) then light waves will change their speed
If light could pass through all mediums at the same speed would there be a rainbow?
Probably not, but that wouldn't be any loss to us. If the speed of light didn't change as it crossed the boundary between media, then eyes would not work.
Is the speed of light faster in a liquid?
No. According to special theory of relativity, the speed of light in all inertial mediums remains the same as that in the vacuum.
Does speed of sound travel faster than light waves through different mediums?
No. Sound travels slowly like a turtle, while light zips along like a rabbit.
