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Speed of light is dependent on density of medium and is inversely proportional to density of medium. Density of air is greater than vaccum. Therefore light moves slower in air than vaccum.

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11y ago
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6mo ago

Light moves slower in air than in a vacuum because air molecules and atoms can interact with the electromagnetic waves of light, causing them to scatter and slow down. In a vacuum, there are no particles to interact with, so light can move through it at its maximum speed of approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.

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Q: Why light move slower in air than vacuum?
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Can electrons move slower than the speed of light?

They can ONLY move slower than the speed of light.


How does light change speed from glass to air?

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Why you cannot accelerate electrons greater than the velocity of light in free space?

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Does light travel faster underwater than in air?

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How does a medium (matter)affect the speed of light?

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Does light travel faster in glass than in a vacuum?

No, slower. Light travels fastest in a vacuum. Anything transparent that light can pass through slows it down somewhat. Diamond crystal slows it down notably, which is part of what causes the "fire" in a diamond.


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Can light travel with lower speed than light speed?

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Why is the speed of light limited in a vacuum?

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Is the speed of sound equal to an electromagnetic wave?

No, speed of sound in air is much slower than the speed of light in vacuum.