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The speed of light in empty space is constant, i.e., always the same. However, the speed of light in another medium can change. So, if a planet has a denser atmosphere than Earth, the speed of light will probably be slightly less than here.

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Is speed of light and speed of sound different in different materials?

yesthe speed of light in a vacuum is different than the speed of light in our atmosphere or another planets atmospherethe speed of sound is also different in the air than when it goes through a solid or liquidAddional answerThe first answer above not quite correct. The speed of light is the same regardless of what it passes through. It's 186,282 miles per second, but there is a small change due to the refractive index of different materials. But this difference is much less than the difference of the speed of sound in different materialsIf we go even further, it's the same to all observers (as Einstein would say). That means that even if you were travelling at close to the speed of light, it would appear to be travelling past or towards you at the speed of light. Now we're into relativity!


When a ray of light from air enters to glass what happens to wavelength?

It will not change. Glass slows light but does not change it frequency.


What does speed change when a ray of light leaves air and enters a piece of glass?

The speed of light slows down ... in general, the denser the material, the lower the speed of light. (For example : air to water to glass.) The maximum speed is in a vacuum.


Why wavelenth changes with speed of light?

Wavelength does not change with the speed of light, nor does the speed of light change for different wave lengths. Wavelength x frequency = c (the speed of light) always for any given medium through which it travels. Greater wavelength yields lower frequency, so the speed is always the same. Speed changes as light passes into different media transparent to light, but the change in speed has nothing to do with any change in frequency or wavelength. Those are related only to the nature of the material and the particular light energies it may pass or absorb. So white light passing through a red filter emerges red because the blue and green frequencies have been absorbed by the filtering material. That change in wavelength and frequency is not related to any change in speed within the filter.


Does the speed of light differ?

No, the speed of light in a vacuum is constant and is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second. This means that light always travels at this speed regardless of the observer's motion or the source of the light.

Related Questions

What is the change in speed called when light travels through different mediums?

The change in speed of light when traveling through different mediums is known as refraction. Refraction occurs because light waves change speed as they pass from one medium to another, causing them to bend.


What is it called when the speed and wavelength change when they go through into a different material?

When speed and wavelength change as light passes through a different material, it is called refraction. Refraction occurs due to the change in the speed of light when it moves from one medium to another, causing the light to bend and change direction.


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


What happens to the speed light as it enters a different medium?

The speed of light changes as it enters a different medium due to the change in the medium's optical properties. This change causes light to either speed up or slow down depending on the medium's refractive index. The change in speed results in the phenomenon of refraction.


What planet have speed of light?

i don`t think planets travel at the speed of light


Light travels through water when the light leaves the water it bends or?

Light bends or refracts when it goes from water to air because the speed of light is different in the two mediums due to their different densities. This change in speed causes the light to change direction.


What causes like to refract?

Light refracts when it passes from one medium to another with a different optical density, causing the light waves to change speed and direction. This bending of light is due to the change in the light's speed as it travels through different mediums.


Is speed of light and speed of sound different in different materials?

yesthe speed of light in a vacuum is different than the speed of light in our atmosphere or another planets atmospherethe speed of sound is also different in the air than when it goes through a solid or liquidAddional answerThe first answer above not quite correct. The speed of light is the same regardless of what it passes through. It's 186,282 miles per second, but there is a small change due to the refractive index of different materials. But this difference is much less than the difference of the speed of sound in different materialsIf we go even further, it's the same to all observers (as Einstein would say). That means that even if you were travelling at close to the speed of light, it would appear to be travelling past or towards you at the speed of light. Now we're into relativity!


Why does the light refract?

Light refracts because it changes speed when it passes from one medium to another, causing it to change direction. This change in speed is due to light traveling at different velocities in different mediums, which results in the bending of the light rays.


How can light be refracted?

Light can be refracted when it passes from one medium to another with a different density, causing its speed to change. The change in speed leads to a change in the light's direction, causing it to bend. This bending is what we observe as refraction.


When light enters a different mediumit's speed changes as it undergoes what?

When light enters a different medium, its speed changes as it undergoes refraction. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, due to the change in speed.


Does refraction change the speed of an object?

Refraction does not change the speed of an object itself, but it does affect the speed of light passing through different mediums. When light travels from one medium to another, such as from air to water, its speed changes, causing a change in direction.