Question 1

What is the speed of light?

Accepted Answer

The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s) in vacuum. It's denoted by 'c' and is a fundamental constant in physics. This speed represents the maximum speed at which all energy, matter, and information can travel through space. It's used in Einstein's famous equation E = mc² and is crucial in relativity theory.

Question 2

How do you calculate speed of light in different media?

Accepted Answer

The speed of light in a medium is calculated using: v = c/n, where v is the speed in the medium, c is the speed in vacuum (299,792,458 m/s), and n is the refractive index of the medium. For example, in water (n = 1.33), light travels at approximately 225,407,000 m/s, which is about 75% of its vacuum speed.

Question 3

What is the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and speed of light?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental relationship is: c = fλ, where c is the speed of light, f is frequency, and λ (lambda) is wavelength. This means: 1) Frequency = c/λ, 2) Wavelength = c/f, 3) Speed = f × λ. This relationship applies to all electromagnetic waves and is fundamental to understanding light behavior.

Question 4

What are common refractive indices for different materials?

Accepted Answer

Common refractive indices include: Vacuum (n = 1.0), Air (n = 1.0003), Water (n = 1.33), Glass (n = 1.5), Diamond (n = 2.42), Plastic (n = 1.4), Ice (n = 1.31), Alcohol (n = 1.36). Higher refractive indices mean light travels slower in that medium, causing more bending and dispersion effects.

Question 5

How does the speed of light vary across the electromagnetic spectrum?

Accepted Answer

The speed of light is constant for all frequencies in vacuum (c = 299,792,458 m/s). However, in different media, the speed varies slightly with frequency due to dispersion. Higher frequencies (blue light) typically travel slightly slower than lower frequencies (red light) in most materials, causing the rainbow effect in prisms.

Question 6

What are practical applications of speed of light calculations?

Accepted Answer

Applications include: 1) Fiber optic communications - calculating signal propagation times. 2) GPS systems - accounting for light travel time delays. 3) Astronomy - measuring distances to stars and galaxies. 4) Laser technology - designing optical systems. 5) Photography - calculating exposure times. 6) Medical imaging - MRI and CT scan timing.

Question 7

How do you convert between different units for electromagnetic waves?

Accepted Answer

Common conversions include: 1) Wavelength: 1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m, 1 μm = 10⁻⁶ m, 1 Å = 10⁻¹⁰ m. 2) Frequency: 1 THz = 10¹² Hz, 1 GHz = 10⁹ Hz, 1 MHz = 10⁶ Hz. 3) Energy: E = hf = hc/λ (where h is Planck's constant). 4) Speed: 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h, c ≈ 3 × 10⁸ m/s ≈ 186,000 miles/second.

Question 8

What is the significance of the speed of light in physics?

Accepted Answer

The speed of light is fundamental because: 1) It's the maximum speed in the universe (nothing can travel faster). 2) It's invariant - the same for all observers (Einstein's postulate). 3) It connects space and time in relativity theory. 4) It defines the meter (1 meter = distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 seconds). 5) It's crucial in quantum mechanics and field theory.

Question 9

How do you verify speed of light calculations?

Accepted Answer

To verify calculations: 1) Check that c = fλ relationship holds. 2) Verify units are consistent (Hz for frequency, m for wavelength, m/s for speed). 3) Compare with known values (red light ≈ 700 nm, green ≈ 550 nm, blue ≈ 450 nm). 4) Check that results make physical sense. 5) Use scientific notation for very large/small numbers. 6) Verify refractive index effects are reasonable.

Question 10

What are the limitations of speed of light calculations?

Accepted Answer

Limitations include: 1) Assumes classical wave behavior (quantum effects ignored). 2) Refractive index varies with temperature and pressure. 3) Dispersion effects not fully accounted for. 4) Non-linear optical effects not considered. 5) Relativistic effects negligible for most applications. 6) Assumes homogeneous media (no scattering or absorption).

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