Question

How is the speed of light constant? I got confuse about it after reading this question.

Answer 1

In which substance does light travel the slowest?
a. crown glass
b. water
c. air
d. diamond

Answer 2

This is from light refraction and reflection lesson

Answer 3

the speed of light in a vaccuum is constant ...

Answer 4

tell me more

Answer 5

please, I got so confuse, because I watch a documentary on Einstein's theory of relativity and it said that speed of light is constant.

Answer 6

einstein im not, so maybe hawkings can do better

Answer 7

The speed of light is a constant, but as it passes through stuff it can get slowed down. Kind of like walking on land and walking through knee high water you can't walk the same speed.

Answer 8

its constant becuase spose you are traveling in a car that is going almost the speed of light, and turn on the headlights ...... the light from the headlights speeds away from that car at the same speed as if the car was standing still or moving in reverse.

Answer 9

A constant means a number that is the same no matter what. The speed of light is a constant because that number will never change.

Answer 10

the speed of the object that emits light does not effect the speed of the light

Answer 11

now in order for light to have this constant speed, strange tings must happen .... space and time itself bend to accomodate it

Answer 12

@Fanduekisses its not water or air is all i can say of course

Answer 13

However, it can be slowed down because it is a speed. But if it's slowed down than it is no longer "the speed of light".

Answer 14

oooohh, this is now starting to make more sense...

Answer 15

as people mentioned above, speed of light in a `vacuum` is constant, but it can slow down in a medium like water

Answer 16

You can't really do anything about this question. Just have to recall the table of refractive indices and choose the one with the highest refractive index.

Answer 17

I've heard that term before, space time but the way you phrased it make so much sense, I love it ^_^ @amistre64

Answer 18

As far as I can recall, the highest is that of ... with \(\mu = 2.42\)

Answer 19

so it's diamond. I was just confused about in what sense the speed of light was constant.

Answer 20

its obvious that light travels faster through air than through water , since air less dense than water, but the other choices is not so obvious

Answer 21

To answer this question, think about it this way: how many "barriers" or obstacles does the light have to travel through. The more barriers it has to go through, obviously it would travel slower. Do you run faster through air or in water?

Answer 22

i have a way with typos :)

Answer 23

@amistre64 I meant to say that how you defined it make so much sense to me ^_^ thanks

Answer 24

youre welcome :)