We know that velosity of light is maximum in vacuum.When it enters into a denser medium velosity decreases and regains original maximum velosity when emerges out into vacuum.If so can we calculate the exact distance of remote stars by simply studying the characteristics of light in our local 'atmosphere'(If we assume that there may be 'denser atmosphere' in between)
2006-08-20 04:23:29 · 3 answers · asked by sasi 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
no we can't
just by studying the characteristics of light in local atmosphere doesnt help finding the distance of stars.
2006-08-20 04:53:52 · answer #1 · answered by Prakash 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
1)There is no denser medium.
2) The speed of light does not say how long it was travelling in the dense medium.
there are other ways we can get the distance more accurately.
2006-08-20 05:07:25 · answer #2 · answered by Dr M 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you notice a train go past, blowing its horn, you'll notice that the horn sound is higher pitched as the train moves toward you and lower pitched as it moves away. That's called the Doppler effect -- the sound waves compress as they approach and stretch as they depart.
Just as with sound, light waves stretch as they move away from us. This movement shifts them toward the red end of the spectrum.
After much observation Cosmologist Edwin Hubble in 1929 concluded that the redshift of light from distant galaxies is proportional to the distance of the object. The same equations can be used to measure the velocity.
2006-08-22 03:48:10 · answer #3 · answered by johntadams3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋