Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site sdcc6.UUCP 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.