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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Newman J. The Harper Encyclopedia of Science, New York, NY: Harper & Row Publishers; 1967:1108.
Segrè E. From X rays to Quarks. San Francisco, Calif: WH Freeman & Co; 1980.
Everit C. James Clerk Maxwell: Physicist and Natural Philosopher. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons: 1975:108–115.
Borowitz S, Beiser A. Essentials of Physics. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co; 1971:403–404.
Kuecken J. Antennae and Transmission Lines. MFJ Publishing; 1996:7–9.
Stoner E, Perkins P. Optical Formulas: Tutorial. Boston. Mass: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1997:12–13.
Rae A. Quantum Physics. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press; 1986:6–9.
Goldwasser E. Optics, Waves, Atoms and Nuclei: An Introduction. New York, NY: WA Benjamin; 1965:195–198.
Rothman T. Instant Physics. New York, NY: Ballantino Books; 1995:217–219.
Rubin M. Optics for Clinicians. Gainesville Fla: Triad Publishing Co; 1974:45–47.
Compton A, Allison S. X-rays in Theory and Experiment. Princeton, NJ: D Van Nostrand Co; 1935:268–281.
White H. Modern College Physics. Princeton, NJ: D Van Nostrand Co; 1966:211–212.
Feynman R, Bleighton R, Sands M. The Feynman Lectures on Physics. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co; 1977:31–1.
MacDonald C, Padiyar S. How photons work. Photonics. 2000; 34:87.
French A. Vibrations and Waves. New York, NY: WW Norton & Co; 1971:107.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights 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
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12009-001-0026-9