Question

Explain why the speed of light is lower than 3.0 × 108 m/s as it goes through different media.

Answer 1

Answer:

Sample Response: In a vacuum, there are no atoms or particles that interfere with the path of light. However, in other media, the speed of light is lower than 3.0 × 108 m/s because the wave is continuously absorbed and re-emitted by each atom in its path. The differences in speed are due to the composition of the medium and the density of the particles in the medium.

Answer 2

Answer:

air or vacuum is the least refractive index medium of most rare medium

all other medium has more value of refractive index and hence the speed will be less than the speed of the air

Explanation:

As we know that speed of light in any medium and speed of light in air is related to each other by the equation

$v = \frac{c}{\mu}$

here we know that

$c = 3 \times 10^8 m/s$

[tex]\mu [tex] = refractive index of the medium

so we know that air or vacuum is the least refractive index medium of most rare medium

all other medium has more value of refractive index and hence the speed will be less than the speed of the air