• RustySharp@programming.dev
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    28
    ·
    3 days ago

    … when charged particles move faster than the speed of light

    So that got me curious, and found this

    nothing travels faster than light in vacuum, but light can be slowed down and something can travel faster than this “slower” light

    Somehow I’ve gone through decades of life without knowing this…

    • Ephera@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      3 days ago

      What also surprised me is that the speed difference depending on medium is actually quite substantial. For example, glass has a refractive index of about 1.5.

      So, the speed of light in glass is c/1.5 ≈ 200.000 km/s, i.e. 66% of the speed of light in vacuum.