Speed of light in glass is still c?

Question

Can anyone confirm me with this? Light slows down in glass because it is absorbed silicon/oxygen atoms and emitted to another, thus it takes up extra time and gives a lower value of c.

However, if you consider each "transmission", light still goes around the atoms at c.

Is this correct?

add: Hmm but (i think) im talking about the intermolecular spaces bewteen the structure, wont light travel in c around them?

Or is there some quantum stuff i should know ?

Im really confused and i cant decide, guess i'll put the question to vote

Answer 1

The constant c is a symbol representing the speed of light in a vacuum. Light travelling through glass travels at a velocity less than c. The ratio of c to that velocity is the refractive index of the material. It doesn't slow down because it is absorbed. See the 'Interaction with transparent materials' section of the reference. Light doesn't 'go around' the atoms. It is an electromagnetic wave interacting with the electrons in the medium.

Answer 2

Yes, the speed of light between molecules in a glass is still c. The slower measured speed for light through a glass is because each time a photon is emitted from one atom and absorbed by a neighboring atom, there is a delay between absorbing the photon, raising the electron to a higher energy orbit, and releasing a new photon when the electron drops back to the lower energy orbit.

Answer 3

Speed of light in glass is less than c to account for the observed distortion in light's passage to at least two different media of varying optical density. That light travels at c, which is a constant is a theory that is true in a vacuum. Your theory will not hold.

Answer 4

I think the molecules of glass create a quasi-periodic medium for your light to pass through. You could look at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherenkov_radiation

Answer 5

i don't think so coz the optical density of glass is more than air or vaccum