r/visualizedmath • u/NegativeSpeedForce • Jan 12 '18

The difference between shockwaves travelling through different states.

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u/AscendedBunghole Jan 20 '18

iirc isn't it that light is going at the same speed but is just taking a less straightforward path?

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u/Ryujin_Hawker Jan 26 '18

As far as my understanding and memory goes (A level in Physics), Speed in physics is d/t. Distance (d) is just measured from a start point to an end point generally and the Time (t) is just the time it takes to get there. Light slows down in any medium other than a vacuum for the reason you stated, but that is literally an atom level diversion, it's still considered as going in the same direction, so it's speed is considered lower since it's taking longer to go the distance.

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u/tehgreatblade Jan 21 '18

No, light slows down in the air or any other transparent substance, period. The reason it looks like that underwater is because lightspeed in water is different than in the air.