Tags Physics Speed of Light

Animals & Plants Arts & Entertainment Auto Beauty & Health Books and Literature Business Electronics Engineering & Technology Food & Drink History Hobbies Jobs & Education Law & Government Math People & Society Science Social Studies Sports Travel & Places

0

Subjects>Science>Natural Sciences

Compared to air the speed of light in water is?

Anonymous

∙ 12y ago

Updated: 6/30/2024

Slower.

Wiki User

∙ 12y ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

Maxine

I respect you enough to keep it real.

Chat with Maxine

Fran

I've made my fair share of mistakes, and if I can help you avoid a few, I'd sure like to try.

Chat with Fran

Coach

Success isn't just about winning—it's about vision, patience, and playing the long game.

Chat with Coach

More answers

The speed of light in water is about 25% slower than in air. This is due to water's higher density and refractive index, which causes light to propagate more slowly.

AnswerBot

∙ 9mo ago

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts

Q: Compared to air the speed of light in water is?

Write your answer...

Submit

Still have questions?

imp

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

How does the speed of light change when it enters the water?

The speed of light decreases when it enters water due to the higher refractive index of water compared to air. The decrease in speed is a result of the light wave interacting with the water molecules, causing it to slow down.

Why does speed of light increase after passing through water?

The speed of light decreases when passing through materials like water due to its higher refractive index compared to air. This causes light to bend (refract) as it enters the water, which effectively slows down its speed.

Is speed of light is same in all optic media?

No, the speed of light is not the same in all optical media. It changes depending on the medium through which light is traveling, such as air, water, or glass. The speed of light is slower in denser media compared to a vacuum, where it travels at its maximum speed.

How you calculate the speed of light in water?

Assuming the speed of light in air is already known (it is close to the speed of light in a vacuum), you might check how the light refracts when it changes from air to water (at what angle), and then use Snell's Law.

What happens to speed of light from water to air?

It speeds up. Air and water are both media (plural form of medium). Each one of them has a different speed of light. As the incident ray passes from air to water, it refracts to be closer to the normal. A refraction occurs when there is a change in the speed of light. A change in the speed of light occurs when there is a change in media. In this case the media is changed from air to water. The second medium (water) must also have a lower speed of light in order for refraction to occur

Trending Questions

Who makes simplicity snow blowers? Is barium selenide soluble in water? How do you say map legend in french? Is servant syndrome dominant or recessive? Can the coco de mer eat? What is the study of nuts called? What are isosteric compounds? Is a white cloud above a cloud condensation? Which organism was most likely to live at the same time as brachiopods? Why does a light bulb light up immediately after you turn on a switch even if the switch was a long way from the bulb? What are some ways life developed in China because of geography? What is the ion charges on Mg3N2? How many thermometers are in a sling psychrometer? What carries some nutrients into the bloodstream? After nitrogen becomes part of the lithosphere what is the next change that nitrogen undergos? Where are the sepals of a flower is located? Is the Aurora Borealis typically strongest near the equator? What is safe reliable method of drying the crystals? What stimulates fat breakdown? What are the current experimental way that stem cells are being used to treat diseases?

Related Questions

When light moves from air to water does it speed up?

No, light slows down when it moves from air to water due to the increase in the optical density of water compared to air. This change in speed causes the light to refract as it enters the water.

What happens to a speed of a light ray as it passes from water to air?

The speed of light increases as it passes from water to air. This is due to the difference in the refractive indexes of water and air, causing the light to travel faster in air compared to water.

How does the speed of light change when it enters the water?

The speed of light decreases when it enters water due to the higher refractive index of water compared to air. The decrease in speed is a result of the light wave interacting with the water molecules, causing it to slow down.

Compare and contrast the speed in water and in the glass?

The speed of light in water is slower than in a vacuum. This is due to the higher refractive index of water compared to air, causing light to bend more in water. In a glass, the speed of light is also slower compared to a vacuum, though the exact speed will depend on the composition of the glass.

Is this true Light waves do not change speed as they travel from air through water?

Light waves do change speed as they travel from air to water due to the change in the medium's refractive index. In general, light travels slower in water compared to air, causing a change in speed and resulting in the bending of the light waves known as refraction.

Why does light slow down when it passes from air into water?

Light slows down when passing from air into water because the speed of light is slower in water compared to air due to the difference in the refractive indices of the two mediums. The change in speed occurs because light waves bend as they enter a denser medium, causing a change in direction and speed.

Can light waves travel fastest in air than water?

Yes, light waves travel faster in air than in water. This is because the speed of light is slower in a denser medium like water compared to a less dense medium like air. The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 300,000 kilometers per second.

Why does speed of light increase after passing through water?

The speed of light decreases when passing through materials like water due to its higher refractive index compared to air. This causes light to bend (refract) as it enters the water, which effectively slows down its speed.

What happens when light bends and travels through water?

When light enters water, it slows down due to the increased density of water compared to air. This change in speed causes the light to bend or change its direction, a phenomenon known as refraction. The amount of bending depends on the angle at which the light enters the water.

Does light travel faster underwater than in air?

As compared to what? Compared to air, or to a vacuum, light travels quite a bit slower in water.As compared to what? Compared to air, or to a vacuum, light travels quite a bit slower in water.As compared to what? Compared to air, or to a vacuum, light travels quite a bit slower in water.As compared to what? Compared to air, or to a vacuum, light travels quite a bit slower in water.

What are two things that refract light?

Glass and water are two examples of materials that can refract light. When light passes through these substances, it changes direction due to the difference in the speed of light in the material compared to the speed in air.

Why speed of light increases with depth of water?

The speed of light increases with depth of water because the density of water increases with depth, which results in a higher refractive index. This higher refractive index causes light to travel faster in water compared to air.

Still have questions?

imp

Resources

Top Categories

Product

Company

Copyright ©2025 Infospace Holdings LLC, A System1 Company. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site can not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with prior written permission of Answers.