What wavelenght is being used to define light when calculating it's speed. Light is made up of a spectrum.
which of the colours (wavelenglts )in the spectrum is used to measure it's speed? Whole point to this question is finding a possible lazer head that can read any data and copy it onto a disc
2007-03-09 00:32:08 · 8 answers · asked by John H 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Any frequency will yield the same speed. This is consistent with Maxwell's equations which predict the speed based on two physical constants.
2007-03-09 00:40:20 · answer #1 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light has the same speed no matter what wavelength - whether something in the infrared band, visible light, or extreme x-ray. This is because light consists of photons, with zero mass, which travel at a fixed rate (= the speed of light). The energy of the photon is what we refer to as the wavelength, but this does not alter the speed at which it travels.
Of course this is light in a vacuum. When travelling through a medium (eg water, air) it will slow down.
For reading data as you describe, all the wavelengths will therefore have the same speed. And for reading data as you describe what determines speed of reading is the speed that the disc goes round rather than the speed of the light moving backwards and forward.
2007-03-09 00:48:22 · answer #2 · answered by Jonathan W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The speed of light IN A VACUUM is constant and independent of frequency.
The variation of speed with frequency in GLASS for example is why white light diverges into a rainbow spectrum!
2007-03-09 01:31:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The duration of one cycle of radiation emitted as a
particular spectral line of the Cesium 133 atom.
2007-03-10 08:33:36 · answer #4 · answered by Bill N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe all electromagnetic radiation (including the entire spectrum) travels at the same velocity.
2007-03-09 00:38:32 · answer #5 · answered by lunatic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
speed of light = frequency x wavelength
speed of light = constant
2007-03-09 01:28:00 · answer #6 · answered by Dr W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to the particular wavelength that you want to calcultate it's speed.
2007-03-09 00:35:51 · answer #7 · answered by c1b3rnut 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the speed of light could be measured you would be able to continue with your pursuits.
2007-03-09 00:40:40 · answer #8 · answered by Jewel 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋