4 ms·
> Lasers propel data down the threads at nearly the speed of light This is funny. Why “nearly”?
by raviolo 8y ago
> Lasers propel data down the threads at nearly the speed of light
This is funny. Why “nearly”?
- dagw 8y agoWhen people colloquially say "speed of light" it understood to mean the speed of light in a vacuum. Light travels slower the higher the refractive index of the medium its travelling through. Saying "nearly the speed of light" indicates that the light is travelling through a medium with a refractive index very close to 1.
- raviolo 8y agoTo say that light travels at “nearly the speed of light” in any medium is a bad choice of words. Also with refraction coefficient of 1.40 - 1.45 in fiber, the term “nearly” is not appropriate if the intention was to compare with vacuum.
- longhorn_alum 8y agoBecause no vacuum
- detaro 8y agoMight be weird wording for the fact that speed of light in glass fibre is slower than in air or vacuum.
- chrisrogers 8y agoFiber optic cabling won't transmit at the speed of light due to the refractive index of the medium. So it's slower than the speed of light in a vacuum or atmosphere.