How Does Light Travel Through a Coke Bottle?

  • Thread starter Passionflower
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In summary, the curvature of the bottle and the change in density between the air and the glass of the bottle causes the light to bend as it passes through. The color of the bottle can also affect how much light is transmitted, with darker colors absorbing more light and lighter colors allowing more light to pass through. The varying thickness of the glass in the bottle causes the light to refract at different angles, resulting in a distorted appearance. The way light behaves when passing through a Coke bottle is different from passing through a prism due to the different shapes and materials. However, a mini rainbow effect can be created by filling a Coke bottle with water and holding it up to sunlight, as the light is refracted through the water and glass.
  • #1
Passionflower
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I thought it would be interesting to show how light moves in a Coke bottle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fSqFWcb4rE&hd[/url]

Is the speed of light really high?
I suppose it depends on the point of view.

Perhaps a moderator can fix this link, I place the URL between the YOUTUBE tags but that does not seem to work.
 
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  • #3
berkeman said:
Is this the same as discussed in this recent thread?
Yep.
 

FAQ: How Does Light Travel Through a Coke Bottle?

What causes the light to bend when passing through a Coke bottle?

The curvature of the bottle and the change in density between the air and the glass of the bottle causes the light to bend as it passes through.

Does the color of the bottle affect the way light passes through?

Yes, the color of the bottle can affect how much light is transmitted through it. Darker colors will absorb more light, while lighter colors will allow more light to pass through.

Why does the light appear distorted when viewed through a Coke bottle?

The varying thickness of the glass in the bottle causes the light to refract at different angles, resulting in a distorted appearance.

Is the light passing through a Coke bottle the same as passing through a prism?

No, the shape and material of a Coke bottle are different from a prism, so the way light behaves when passing through them will also be different.

Can you use a Coke bottle to create a rainbow effect with light?

Yes, by filling a Coke bottle with water and holding it up to sunlight, you can create a mini rainbow effect as the light is refracted through the water and glass.

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