Question
Which statements about the speed of electromagnetic waves are accurate?
Multiple select question.
All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in all materials.
All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum.
Refraction is caused by light traveling faster when it enters glass.
The speed of an electromagnetic wave in matter is always slower than in a vacuum.
Multiple select question.
All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in all materials.
All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum.
Refraction is caused by light traveling faster when it enters glass.
The speed of an electromagnetic wave in matter is always slower than in a vacuum.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here are the accurate statements regarding the speed of electromagnetic waves:
1. **All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum.** - This statement is true. In a vacuum, all electromagnetic waves, regardless of their frequency or wavelength, travel at the speed of light, which is approximately \(3.00 \times 10^8\) meters per second.
2. **The speed of an electromagnetic wave in matter is always slower than in a vacuum.** - This statement is also true. When electromagnetic waves travel through any medium (other than a vacuum), they interact with the particles in the medium, which causes them to travel at a speed slower than in a vacuum.
The following statements are not accurate:
- **All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in all materials.** - This statement is false. The speed of electromagnetic waves varies depending on the material they are traveling through (e.g., air, water, glass, etc.).
- **Refraction is caused by light traveling faster when it enters glass.** - This statement is false. Refraction occurs when light travels from one medium to another at different speeds. When light enters glass from air, it actually slows down, causing the bending of the light ray towards the normal.
Therefore, the accurate statements are the second and fourth ones.
1. **All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum.** - This statement is true. In a vacuum, all electromagnetic waves, regardless of their frequency or wavelength, travel at the speed of light, which is approximately \(3.00 \times 10^8\) meters per second.
2. **The speed of an electromagnetic wave in matter is always slower than in a vacuum.** - This statement is also true. When electromagnetic waves travel through any medium (other than a vacuum), they interact with the particles in the medium, which causes them to travel at a speed slower than in a vacuum.
The following statements are not accurate:
- **All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in all materials.** - This statement is false. The speed of electromagnetic waves varies depending on the material they are traveling through (e.g., air, water, glass, etc.).
- **Refraction is caused by light traveling faster when it enters glass.** - This statement is false. Refraction occurs when light travels from one medium to another at different speeds. When light enters glass from air, it actually slows down, causing the bending of the light ray towards the normal.
Therefore, the accurate statements are the second and fourth ones.