2006-11-14 13:40:17 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
light travels as fast as it always travels, no matter what it shines through. Things block light, but it doesn't slow it down.
2006-11-14 13:42:06 · answer #1 · answered by Jason W 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
interesting question. I'm not 100% on this but, I'd say light travels faster in a solid clear object. Any body of water is a free moving thing and so there are tiny molecules in constant motion. This constant motion may deflect or change the path of light therefore slowing it down... and we all know the shortest distance between two objects is a straight line.. except in space but that's a whole other subjuect.
2006-11-14 13:45:52 · answer #2 · answered by thedarkbristow 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I would say water because, the electrons in water slide past each other, and the electrons in a solid block vibrate and don't move much.Thus water is easier for light to travel through.
2006-11-14 13:42:35 · answer #3 · answered by xstraight_edge_emo_kidx 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the speed of light in a material is equal to c/n where c is speed of light in vacuum and n is the index of refraction. The index of refraction of water is 1.33. Most materials have a larger index of refraction than water. The question is a solid block of what???
2006-11-14 14:49:15 · answer #4 · answered by meg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It travels faster in water because there is less resistance to its motion in water than in a solid block, just like it travels faster in air than in water and faster in vacuum than in air.
This is manifest by the optical phenomenon of refraction.
2006-11-14 13:42:31 · answer #5 · answered by spongeworthy_us 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋