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Light travels through 1.00 m of water in 4.42 x 10^-9 s. What is the speed of light in water?

A4.42 x 10^-9 m/s
B4.42 x 10^9 m/s
C2.26 x 10^8 m/s
D3.00 x 10^8 m/s
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. 2.26 x 10^8 m/s
1. Speed equals distance divided by time, v = d divided by t. 2. Substitute d = 1.00 m and t = 4.42 x 10^-9 s. 3. Dividing gives v = 2.26 x 10^8 m/s. 4. 4.42 x 10^-9 m/s and 4.42 x 10^9 m/s simply repeat the given time value without dividing it correctly. 5. 3.00 x 10^8 m/s is the speed of light in vacuum, which is faster than light travels through water. 6. So 2.26 x 10^8 m/s is correct. _Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 "Special Relativity", section 10.1 Postulates of Special Relativity_
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