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Light travels faster (up to the speed of light) in a vacuum, which is empty space. Light travels slower through a medium (matter).

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Edwin Mitchell

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2y ago
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13y ago

The speed of light is faster in a vacuum (empty space) than going through a material, which slows it down because the photons (the light) has to bounce around against the material on its way to its destination. In empty space, the light travels in a straight line uninterrupted.

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12y ago

Light always travels at the speed of light (the speed in vacuo). However in materials there is a constant interaction between the light and the electrons in the material, this gives light a slower effective speed.

In vacuum such electrons are absent and so light is (effectively) faster.

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14y ago

The wavelength is longer. When light encounters denser matter, the wavelength is shorter and the speed is shorter.

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13y ago

Light travels faster (up to the speed of light) in a vacuum, which is empty space. Light travels slower through a medium (matter).

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Q: Why does light travel faster in empty spaces?
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Related questions

Does light travel through empty spaces?

yes it does..


Why does light travel faster through empty space than matter?

It doesn't travel faster through a vacuum. In our Universe there is no such thing as empty space.


What kind of wave is able to travel through both matter and empty space?

A type of wave that can travel through empty space as well as through matter is electromagnetic wave. Light travels fastest in empty spaces.


What is an example of a wave that can travel through empty spaces?

Light waves can travel through empty spaces. Any type of electromagnetic waves, from below ELF (<< 3 Hz) up through gamma rays (> 30 EHz) can travel through empty space. Visible light is just the one band from 430 THz to 790 THz. The only type of waves that can travel through empty space are electromagnetic waves.


Does light travel faster in empty space?

Yes light has the maximum speed viz 3 x 10^8 m/s (approximately). So light travels faster in vacuum.


Which type of wave can travel through empty space by electromagnetic waves?

Light, a combination of oscillating electric and magnetic fields.


Why do light waves travel faster in empty air than in matter?

I believe it might be because the light has nothing to reflect off of so it would travel in a straight line


Does light travel fastest through solids liquids gases or empty spaces?

Technically the speed of light does not vary because of the material, because the speed of light is a constant at around 300,000km/s


Can echoes travel faster than light?

No. Nothing can travel faster than light.


Is light faster in empty space or in air?

In empty space, ie in a vacuum


Can you travel in light so you can travel faster?

No


What is superluminal travel?

Travel faster than the speed of light. By definition, Superluminal is "Faster-than-light (FTL)"