1. Understand the Speed of Light in Glass
* Light travels slower in glass than in a vacuum. The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s).
* The speed of light in glass is typically around 2/3 of its speed in a vacuum. This value can vary slightly depending on the type of glass.
2. Calculate the Speed in Glass
* Approximate speed of light in glass: (2/3) * 299,792,458 m/s ≈ 199,861,639 m/s
3. Convert Units
* Since the thickness of the glass is given in millimeters, let's convert the speed to millimeters per second:
* 199,861,639 m/s = 199,861,639,000 mm/s
4. Calculate the Time
* Time = Distance / Speed
* Time = 2 mm / 199,861,639,000 mm/s
* Time ≈ 1 x 10^-11 seconds (or 10 picoseconds)
Therefore, it takes approximately 10 picoseconds for a light ray to travel through a 2mm glass sheet.
