Skip to main content

All Questions

-1 votes
0 answers
46 views

Is there a good quantum explanation of refraction? [duplicate]

I'm aware of the classical explanation of refraction which deals with light being a wave that gets "slowed" down while passing from a medium to another. One problem that I have with this ...
PicPuc's user avatar
  • 99
-1 votes
1 answer
78 views

Inconvenience of speed of light in optic fiber

As far as I'm concerned, optic fiber is great in order to transport information quickly using light. Since light needs to undergo total internal reflection every single time it hits the walls of the ...
Lagrangiano's user avatar
  • 1,629
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

Fermat principle: how did they know the speed of light in different mediums?

Pierre de Fermat derived his principle of least time by considering the path that light would take when traveling between two points. He postulated that light would follow the path that minimized the ...
Andy Chow's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
26 views

Why the photons are deflected during the refraction? [duplicate]

From what I learnt, when photons are passing throw a denser environnement with an positive angle (from the atmosphere to water for exemple), they are slow down. But I can't understand how this ...
Jay Labarsurlakantik 's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
38 views

Can anyone explain the relationship between the refractive index, the speed, wavelength and angle of a wave?

Can anyone explain the relationship between the refractive index, the speed, wavelength and angle of a wave? in my book is states that $$n = \frac{v_1}{v_2} = \frac{\sin θ_1}{\sin θ_2} = \frac{λ_1}{...
dayum's user avatar
  • 1
3 votes
2 answers
132 views

Why is $c = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu_0 \epsilon_0}}$?

I'm sorry if this is a duplicate but I didn't find my answer. I'm currently studying maxwell's equations and I know that by comparing the wave equation for either the magnetic or the electric field \...
Axodarap's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
33 views

Does light accelerate? [duplicate]

If considering the general formula for acceleration, ie. Δ V/ΔT, we would get zero as the velocity of light is constant and does not change. However, what about when photons travel through different ...
Mel's user avatar
  • 133
1 vote
2 answers
72 views

On the (variable?) nature of $\epsilon_0$ and $\mu_0$

In electromagnetism, the electric displacement field D represents the distribution of electric charges in a given medium resulting from the presence of an electric field E. Its relation to ...
Juan Moreno's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
94 views

When light passes from one medium to another. Depending on the density, it would experience a change in velocity. Why would its vector change as well?

For example, when light passes through water its velocity decreases and refraction occurs. Why? Why is there a change in direction. If I slow down a car I don’t suddenly turn left.
A new learner's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
50 views

Speed in a medium

Let's say, that there is medium, where the speed of light is $10^8 \, \rm m/s$. So in that medium if there exists a particle that is moving through without any hindrance what would be the speed limit ...
Le nerd's user avatar
  • 151
3 votes
1 answer
100 views

Can the refractive index of a medium be negative?(<0)

Recently I was asked in a test what would happen if the refractive index of a medium was negative. Is it possible really? The refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum and ...
Sukuna's user avatar
  • 41
0 votes
3 answers
90 views

Is it possible to distinguish the type of space according to the speed of light in vacuum? [duplicate]

Why is the speed of light 300 000 km/s? The speed of light is slower in glass, water and diamond. Is the speed of light in water, glass and diamond also absolute? Can we calculate the material such as ...
Darwin's user avatar
  • 101
2 votes
1 answer
118 views

What is the speed of light in case of Critical Angle?

When light travels from an optically denser to a rarer medium, it bends away from the normal and at a specific angle of incidence, the angle of refraction is ${90}^{\circ}$. When the angle of ...
Rishith Raj Raizada's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
5k views

At what speed does information move through the atoms of a rigid object?

How fast does information travel on particles? I thought if you move a iron bar from one end it would take the speed of sound to move its other end. For example, theoretically if you hold an iron bar ...
J Frank's user avatar
  • 97
1 vote
1 answer
348 views

Amaterasu particle's secondary particles travel faster than the speed of light?

From this article in The Guardian When ultra-high-energy cosmic rays hit Earth’s atmosphere, they initiate a cascade of secondary particles and electromagnetic radiation in what is known as an ...
Edwardo's user avatar
  • 119

15 30 50 per page
1
2 3 4 5
15