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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!sdcc6!ix469
From: ix469@sdcc6.UUCP (david smith{|ix})
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: New discussion
Message-ID: <2273@sdcc6.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 23:27:37 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcc6.2273
Posted: Fri Nov  1 23:27:37 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 5-Nov-85 05:40:05 EST
References: <353@uw-june.UUCP> <8500013@orstcs.UUCP> <198@ur-tut.UUCP>
Reply-To: ix469@sdcc6.UUCP (david smith{|ix})
Distribution: net
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center
Lines: 29
Keywords: speed of light

In article <198@ur-tut.UUCP> scco@ur-tut.UUCP (Sean Colbath) writes:
>In article <8500013@orstcs.UUCP> jamesp@orstcs.UUCP (jamesp) writes:
>>This is called "Cherenkov Radiation,"  and happens all the time.  Often a
>>subatomic particle is moving faster than the speed of light in a medium (for
>>example, the speed of light in water is much less than the speed of light in a
>>vacuum -- ever seen a picture of a nuclear reactor with that beautiful
>>sky-blue "radioactive" glow?  That's caused by lots of alpha and beta
>>particles ripping through the water faster than the speed of light.)
>
>WHAT???  The speed of light in water is much less than the speed of light 
>in a vacuum????  AAAUUUGHH!!  Einstein just rolled over!  I always thought:
>'The speed of light is the same for all observers, no matter what his 
>frame of reference'...  If what you say is true, then all kinds of phenomena
>would open up simply by exceeding this 'slower' speed in water...  Eek! 
>
Sorry to tell you this, but it is slower in water.  Frame of
reference refers to *inertial* frame of reference, i.e. no matter
what speed you are moving at in a medium, the speed will always be
the same.  The speed is different in different mediums.
As a matter of fact, it does give rise to some interesting phenomena
such as refraction and reflection.

 
==================
David L. Smith
UC Sandy Eggo
{ucbvax, ihnp4}!sdcsvax!sdcc6!ix469

Albert, you can turn back over now.