benmww said:i suppose what i would really like to understand is the mechanism that casues the speed of light to be reduced
The speed of light in a refractive material is different from the speed of light in a vacuum. It is determined by the refractive index of the material and is typically slower than the speed of light in a vacuum.
The speed of light is affected by the density and composition of the material it is passing through. Materials with a higher refractive index will slow down the speed of light more than materials with a lower refractive index.
No, according to the theory of relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum is the maximum speed at which energy, matter, and information can travel. Therefore, the speed of light in a refractive material can never be faster than the speed of light in a vacuum.
The speed of light in a refractive material determines how much the light will bend when passing through it. The greater the difference between the speed of light in the material and in a vacuum, the more the light will bend.
Yes, the speed of light in a refractive material will remain constant as long as the material remains unchanged. However, the speed of light may vary depending on the wavelength of the light, as different wavelengths may have different refractive indices in the material.