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Why would you expect the speed of light to be slightly less in the atmosphere than in a vacuum?
This is from Wikipedia article 'speed of light'
In passing through materials, the observed speed of light can differ from c, as a result of the time lag between the polarization response of the medium and the incident light. The ratio of c to the phase velocity of light in the material is called the refractive index. The speed of light in air is only slightly less than c. Denser media, such as water and glass, can slow light much more, to fractions such as and of c. Through diamond, light is much slower-only about 124,000 kilometres per second, less than of c.[14] This reduction in speed is also responsible for bending of light at an interface between two materials with different indices, a phenomenon known as refraction. Since the speed of light in a material depends on the refractive index, and the refractive index may depend on the frequency of the light, light at different frequencies can travel at different speeds through the same material. This effect is called dispersion. Classically, considering electromagnetic radiation to be a wave, the charges of each atom (primarily the electrons) interact with the electric and magnetic fields of the radiation, slowing its progress. A more complete description of the passage of light through a medium is given by quantum electrodynamics.
The atmosphere is denser than the "vacuum" and light travels slower in denser medium.
What else can I help you with?
What does light travel fastest in?
Light travels at 299792458 meters per second in a vacuum.
How fast does does sunrays travel?
Sunlight, or sunrays, travels at the speed of light, which is about 186,282 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second) in a vacuum. When sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, it slows down slightly due to interactions with particles in the atmosphere, but it still travels at a very fast speed.
Can you give an example of light traveling in a vacuum?
The sun rising every morning. Its' light traveled about 93,000,00 miles through a vacuum in order to be seen.If you accept that the space between the Earth and the Moon is lacking in atmosphere, that is, its a pretty good vacuum, then the simple fact that you can see the Moon (and Sun and Stars) is enough proof for me.
What material does light pass through fastest?
Light travels fastest through vacuum, which is the absence of any material. In other materials, light typically travels slightly slower due to interactions with the atoms or particles in the material.
What are the speed of electromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second in a vacuum. This speed can vary in different mediums, such as air or glass, where light may travel slower than its maximum speed in a vacuum.
How fas does light travel?
Light in its fastest state in a vacuum only can travel at 3.0*10^8km/s but as it enters the earth's atmosphere, the atmosphere is full of dust particles and layers of gases which can effect the speed of light slightly, in the earths atmosphere light travels at 2.89*10^8 km/s .
What makes light waves change speed as they travel from the sun to the Earth's surface?
Light has a single speed in a vacuum - which is almost 300,000 kilometers per second. Once light enters Earth's atmosphere, it will be slightly slower.
Light from the sun travels through space to the earths atmosphere What will light waves do when they move from empty space into matter made up of different gases?
They will slow down slightly compared to their speed in vacuum, they will bend slightly as they enter the atmosphere, and they will follow a path through it that continues to curve slightly.
Where is the speed of light at its fastest?
The speed of light is fastest in a vacuum. All other media slow the speed of light down, albeit very slightly.
What does light travel fastest in?
Light travels at 299792458 meters per second in a vacuum.
Do particles in the atmosphere slow down either the speed of light or radio waves as they travel outward into the universe?
Light and radio waves travel slower through air than they do through space or vacuum. But as soon as they leave the atmosphere and get into space or vacuum, they speed up to 299,792,458 meters per second.
How many is light speed?
The speed of light is 299,792,458 meters (186,282 miles) per second, in vacuum. It's slightly less in a material medium.
How fast does light travel out of a vacuum and why is this important to astronomy?
it depends on the medium the light is travelling through. In a vacuum, light travels ~299,000km/s. In air, light travels ~298,000km/s. And in water light travels ~225,000km/s. Essentially you take the speed of light in a vacuum and divide by the refractive index of the material the light is passing through, this will give you the new speed of light in that medium. As for the importance in astronomy, I am not sure, but I will guess that it has to do with light refracting as it enters the earth's atmosphere ever so slightly. this may throw off measurements a bit or result in slight corrections in telescopic direction and focus. Other than that I am not sure as I have never heard of this being an issue.
How fast does does sunrays travel?
Sunlight, or sunrays, travels at the speed of light, which is about 186,282 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second) in a vacuum. When sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, it slows down slightly due to interactions with particles in the atmosphere, but it still travels at a very fast speed.
Why stars seen to twinkle?
That`s because of small disturbances in the earths atmosphere. Planets don`t twinkle because their light is stronger, whereas the light of stars is weak enough to have their light slightly bent by the moving atmosphere.
How many miles does light travel through the air in 1 second?
186,000miles per second in a vacuum, slightly less in air.
Can you give an example of light traveling in a vacuum?
The sun rising every morning. Its' light traveled about 93,000,00 miles through a vacuum in order to be seen.If you accept that the space between the Earth and the Moon is lacking in atmosphere, that is, its a pretty good vacuum, then the simple fact that you can see the Moon (and Sun and Stars) is enough proof for me.
