Proposals to Measure the Speed of Light in Different Media within the Area of Education

Abstract

In this work, a series of relatively simple experiments aimed at measuring the speed of light in different media within an educational environment is presented. In this way, the different methods and procedures -which can be carried out within university laboratories- for measuring at what velocity light propagates through air, crystal or water are described step by step. The speed of light measurement activities presented in this article represent an enjoyable and practical way of enriching the teaching of both optics and electromagnetism, get familiar with specific instrumentation such as oscilloscopes and optical transmitters/receivers or understand the science underlying fiber optics. Finally, the proposed experiments represent, in the end, an ideal example of bringing students closer to the so-called 'scientific method'.

Keywords

• Electromagnetismo
• Luz
• Enseñanza de las Ciencias
• Divulgación de las Ciencias.