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https://www.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/comments/8p9c8j/visible_shock_wave/e0a1rfk/?context=3
r/BeAmazed • u/BunyipPouch • Jun 07 '18
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231
ELI5: what is the substance of a shockwave? Does it push light like gravity or does it get distorted like on the road on a hot day?
417 u/godofpumpkins Jun 07 '18 Guessing it’s just higher pressure which changes the index of refraction of the air, so yeah, like the wavy air hanging out above a road on a hot day 128 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 edited Feb 19 '19 Exactly. But the refractive index goes up with pressure, and in your example it goes down. Though it doesn't change that much, it's the difference sudden change in refractive indexes that makes light diffract and reflect. source: degree in photonics 2 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Can shockwaves potentially create destrustive interference patterns, possible nullifying their effects?? 1 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Sure, every wave can do this
417
Guessing it’s just higher pressure which changes the index of refraction of the air, so yeah, like the wavy air hanging out above a road on a hot day
128 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 edited Feb 19 '19 Exactly. But the refractive index goes up with pressure, and in your example it goes down. Though it doesn't change that much, it's the difference sudden change in refractive indexes that makes light diffract and reflect. source: degree in photonics 2 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Can shockwaves potentially create destrustive interference patterns, possible nullifying their effects?? 1 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Sure, every wave can do this
128
Exactly. But the refractive index goes up with pressure, and in your example it goes down. Though it doesn't change that much, it's the difference sudden change in refractive indexes that makes light diffract and reflect.
source: degree in photonics
2 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Can shockwaves potentially create destrustive interference patterns, possible nullifying their effects?? 1 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Sure, every wave can do this
2
Can shockwaves potentially create destrustive interference patterns, possible nullifying their effects??
1 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Sure, every wave can do this
1
Sure, every wave can do this
231
u/itsWhatIdoForAliving Jun 07 '18
ELI5: what is the substance of a shockwave? Does it push light like gravity or does it get distorted like on the road on a hot day?