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Chapter 29: Problem 6

When astronomers observe a supernova explosion in a distant galaxy, they see a sudden, simultaneous rise in visible light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. How is this evidence that the speed of light is independent of frequency?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The simultaneous rise in visible light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation observed during a supernova explosion is evidence that the speed of light is independent of frequency. This is because this simultaneous observation implies that all forms of radiation, regardless of their frequency, traveled the same distance at the same speed - the speed of light - to reach the observer.

Step by step solution

01

Understand properties of light and electromagnetic radiation

Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation, as are X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, and radio waves, to name only a few. All these forms of electromagnetic radiation travel at the same speed in a vacuum, which is roughly \(3 \times 10^8\) meters per second or 300,000 kilometers per second. This is what is popularly referred to as the 'speed of light', denoted by the symbol 'c'.
02

Understand the observation during a supernova explosion

During a supernova explosion, a sudden, simultaneous rise in visible light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation is observed. 'Simultaneous' means 'at the same time' - in this case, the increasing intensity of visible light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation reach the observer at the same time.
03

Apply the knowledge of the speed of light

The simultaneous observation of the rise in intensity of visible light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation suggests that they all travelled the same distance at the same speed - the speed of light - to reach the observer. This implies that the speed of light is independent of frequency since all forms of radiation, irrespective of their frequency, were observed simultaneously.

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