Skip to main content
Log in

The velocity of light

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Ophthalmology

Abstract

Attempts to oversimplify the meaning of light velocity have lead to confusion about the terms velocity of light, effective velocity, phase velocity, and photon velocity. This confusion has resulted in misleading publicity claims, such as causing a “photon to move as slowly as a baseball”. For this reason, the topic of the “velocity of light” is reexamined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Newman J. The Harper Encyclopedia of Science, New York, NY: Harper & Row Publishers; 1967:1108.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Segrè E. From X rays to Quarks. San Francisco, Calif: WH Freeman & Co; 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Everit C. James Clerk Maxwell: Physicist and Natural Philosopher. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons: 1975:108–115.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Borowitz S, Beiser A. Essentials of Physics. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co; 1971:403–404.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kuecken J. Antennae and Transmission Lines. MFJ Publishing; 1996:7–9.

  6. Stoner E, Perkins P. Optical Formulas: Tutorial. Boston. Mass: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1997:12–13.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rae A. Quantum Physics. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press; 1986:6–9.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Goldwasser E. Optics, Waves, Atoms and Nuclei: An Introduction. New York, NY: WA Benjamin; 1965:195–198.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Rothman T. Instant Physics. New York, NY: Ballantino Books; 1995:217–219.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rubin M. Optics for Clinicians. Gainesville Fla: Triad Publishing Co; 1974:45–47.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Compton A, Allison S. X-rays in Theory and Experiment. Princeton, NJ: D Van Nostrand Co; 1935:268–281.

    Google Scholar 

  12. White H. Modern College Physics. Princeton, NJ: D Van Nostrand Co; 1966:211–212.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Feynman R, Bleighton R, Sands M. The Feynman Lectures on Physics. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co; 1977:31–1.

    Google Scholar 

  14. MacDonald C, Padiyar S. How photons work. Photonics. 2000; 34:87.

    Google Scholar 

  15. French A. Vibrations and Waves. New York, NY: WW Norton & Co; 1971:107.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fugo, R.J., DelCampo, D.M. The velocity of light. Ann Ophthalmol 33, 196–204 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12009-001-0026-9

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12009-001-0026-9

Keywords

Navigation