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Speed of Light

Denoted with the symbol "c," the speed of light is 299,792,458 metres per second and is often rounded as 300,000 kilometres per second or 186,000 miles per second.

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How does the speed of light compare in water glass and diamond?

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Asked by Wiki User

The speed of light is slower in water and glass compared to its speed in a vacuum, but faster in diamond. This difference is due to the different optical properties of these materials, which affect how light propagates through them. In water and glass, light travels at about 3/4 of its speed in a vacuum, while in diamond, light travels even faster than in a vacuum.

What is the effect of wave refraction along irrelgular coastlines?

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Asked by Wiki User

Wave refraction along irregular coastlines causes waves to bend and focus energy towards headlands and away from bays. This can lead to erosion of headlands and deposition in bays, shaping the coastline over time. Additionally, refraction can create rip currents and influence sediment transport along the coastline.

What fraction of the speed of light must you travel for your mass to be twice the rest mass?

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Asked by Wiki User

To have a mass that is twice the rest mass at relativistic speeds, you would need to travel at about 86.6% of the speed of light. This is calculated using the relativistic mass formula, which states that mass increases with velocity according to the equation: m = m0 / sqrt(1-v^2/c^2), where m is the relativistic mass, m0 is the rest mass, v is the velocity, and c is the speed of light.

Do you have to add the speed of an object to the speed of light?

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Asked by Wiki User

No, the speed of light (299,792,458 meters per second) is a constant in a vacuum and cannot be added to the speed of an object. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, an object with mass would require an infinite amount of energy to accelerate to the speed of light.

Why light passes undeviated falling straight on a refracting medium?

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Asked by Wiki User

When light enters a refracting medium, its speed changes due to the change in optical density, which causes the light waves to bend. If the light is entering the medium perpendicular to the surface, it will not bend, as there is no change in angle and no deviation occurs.

Why ray does not refract when it passes through optical centre?

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Asked by Wiki User

When light passes through the optical center of a lens, it does not refract because the optical center is the point from which light rays are believed to pass undeviated. This means that the angles of incidence and refraction are both zero, resulting in no bending of the light ray.

How does the speed of light help us?

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Asked by Wiki User

The speed of light helps us by providing a universal constant that underpins many fundamental principles in physics, such as the theory of relativity. It also serves as a practical limit on how fast information or energy can travel in the universe, influencing our understanding of space, time, and the behavior of electromagnetic waves.

How many light seconds in a light year?

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Asked by Wiki User

There are about 31.56 million seconds in a year. Since light travels at a speed of about 299,792 kilometers per second, there are roughly 9.461 trillion kilometers in one light year. So, there are 9.461 trillion light seconds in a light year.

What travels at the speed of light and caries information?

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Asked by Wiki User

Electromagnetic radiation, such as light, travels at the speed of light and carries information in the form of varying frequencies and wavelengths. This information can be decoded by receivers like our eyes or specialized devices.

When do photons behave more like a wave?

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Asked by Wiki User

Photons behave more like a wave when they exhibit phenomena such as interference and diffraction, which are characteristics of wave behavior. This is evident in experiments like the double-slit experiment where photons create an interference pattern when passed through two slits.

What thing in this universe can bend the light?

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Asked by Wiki User

Gravity, specifically the gravitational force exerted by massive objects like stars, galaxies, and black holes, can bend light as it travels through space. This effect is known as gravitational lensing and is a prediction of Einstein's theory of general relativity.

How many times greater is the speed of infrared light than the speed of violet light in vacuum wavelength of the violet light is around 400nm and wavelength of infrared is 800nm?

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Asked by Wiki User

The speed of light in a vacuum is constant, so the speed of infrared light and violet light is the same, approximately 3.00 x 10^8 meters per second. The difference in their wavelengths does not affect their speeds in vacuum.

When is the only time that the light waves travel at the speed of light?

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Asked by Wiki User

Light waves always travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, which is approximately 186,282 miles per second. The speed of light in a vacuum is a constant, regardless of the observer's perspective.

When light enters from denser medium to rare medium in what direction does it turns?

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Asked by Wiki User

It depends what angle it incidents on. For example: if the light was at right angles it wouldn't turn at all.

It is best to think of the mediums as two different road surfaces and the light as a car. As the light (car) comes from a dense medium (dirt) onto a rare medium (tar) it will go faster on the side that first touches the rare medium, and hence, turn it.

How long would it take to go 20 light years at 36000 mph?

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Asked by Wiki User

It would take approximately 40,238 years to travel 20 light years at 36,000 mph. This calculation takes into account the limitations of current space travel technology and the vast distances involved in interstellar travel.

Sample physics sba lab?

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Asked by Wiki User

If you need help with a specific physics lab, please provide the details of the experiment or problem you are working on. I can offer guidance on how to set up the experiment, analyze data, or interpret results.

Do electromagnetic waves all travel at the same speed through space?

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Asked by Wiki User

Yes, electromagnetic waves all travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second. This speed is a fundamental constant of nature.

What happens hen you heat a particle up so fast it travels at the speed of light?

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Asked by Wiki User

It is not possible for a particle with mass to reach the speed of light, as it would require infinite energy. Additionally, at speeds approaching the speed of light, relativistic effects become significant, causing time dilation and length contraction.

Would a incident ray bend when it enters a curved plastic container?

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Asked by Xoxlov

Yes, the incident ray will bend when it enters a curved plastic container due to refraction. The bending of the ray occurs because light travels at different speeds in different materials, causing the ray to change direction as it enters the container.

Why is 12000 lunar orbits the speed of light?

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Asked by Wiki User

The speed of light is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second. The number of lunar orbits required to cover this distance would be 12000 because the circumference of the Moon's orbit around the Earth is about 10,000 kilometers. Multiplying this by 12000 gives an approximate value close to the speed of light.

What speed does light go at?

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Asked by Wiki User

Light travels at a speed of approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 186,282 miles per second) in a vacuum. This speed is commonly referred to as the speed of light, denoted as "c" in scientific equations.

How does laser speed guns use lasers?

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Asked by Wiki User

Laser speed guns use a narrow beam of laser light to detect the speed of a moving vehicle by calculating the time it takes for the laser beam to travel to the vehicle and reflect back. The device measures the change in frequency of the reflected light to determine the speed of the vehicle based on the Doppler effect.

What is the name for dark objects that show more light than pale ones?

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Asked by Wiki User

Luminous objects emit their own light, while illuminated objects reflect light they receive. This can sometimes make dark objects appear brighter than pale ones under certain lighting conditions.

What are the types of reflection?

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Asked by Wiki User

There are two main types of reflection: internal reflection, where a person reflects internally on their thoughts, feelings, and experiences; and external reflection, where a person engages in conversation or written reflection with others to gain new insights or perspectives. Both types of reflection are valuable for personal growth and learning.

How do we know that light is the fastest thing in the universe?

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Asked by Wiki User

Light is the fastest thing in the universe because it travels at a constant speed of about 186,282 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second) in a vacuum. This speed is a fundamental constant of nature known as the speed of light, which is a key component of Einstein's theory of relativity.