Questions about light are sooo hard!?

Question

When light encounters a material, it can build up vibration in the electrons of certain atoms that may be intense enough to last over a long period of time. Will the energy of these vibrations tend to be absorbed and turned into heat, or absorbed and reemitted as light?
(a)absorbed and converted into light
(b)absorbed and turned into heat

In what direction is the polarization of the glare that reflects from a horizontal surface?
(a)horizontal
(b)neither; light is blocked
(c)vertical

You can get a sunburn on a sunny and on an overcast day. But you cannot get a sunburn if you are behind glass. Explain.

How long does light take to travel from the sun to Earth?
min
From the star Alpha Centauri to Earth?
yr

Why would you expect the speed of light to be slightly less in the atmosphere than in a vacuum?

Answer 1

1 converted to light
2 a
3 sunburn is caused by ultraviolet which is blocked by glass
4 8 min 4 years
5 max speed is in vacuum

Answer 2

Light being absorbed into an electron doesnt create "vibrations" what it does is the extra energy allows the electron to jump to a higher orbital. Once the electron goes back to its normal state the energy is re-emitted as a photon.

As far as the polarization question goes im not sure.

As for sunburns.. The glass defuses the light but make no mistake you will eventually burn.

light from the sun to earth takes about 3 min.
from alpha centauri to earth it would take the distance in lightyears I don't know it offhand just look around on the internet.

The speed of light in any material is less than the speed of light in a vacuum. This is becuase the light has to interact with atoms. Think of you driving on an open road and then in traffic. You still get there but it takes a little longer.