On the Moon's surface, lunar astronauts placed a corner reflector, off which a laser beam is periodically reflected. The distance to the Moon is calculated from the round-trip time. The Earth's atmosphere slows down light. Assume the distance to the Moon is precisely 3.84 x 10% m, and Earth's atmosphere (which varies in density with altitude) is equivalent to a layer 20.0 km thick with a constant index of refraction n = 1.000293. What is the difference in travel time for light that travels only through space to the moon and back and light that travels through the atmosphere and space?

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
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ISBN:9781133104261
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Chapter25: Reflection And Refraction Of Light
Section: Chapter Questions
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On the Moon's surface, lunar astronauts placed a corner reflector, off which a laser beam is periodically reflected. The distance to
the Moon is calculated from the round-trip time. The Earth's atmosphere slows down light. Assume the distance to the Moon is
precisely 3.84 x 10* m, and Earth's atmosphere (which varies in density with altitude) is equivalent to a layer 20.0 km thick with
a constant index of refraction n = 1.000293. What is the difference in travel time for light that travels only through space to the
moon and back and light that travels through the atmosphere and space?
difference in travel time:
S
Question Credit: OpenStax College Physics
Transcribed Image Text:On the Moon's surface, lunar astronauts placed a corner reflector, off which a laser beam is periodically reflected. The distance to the Moon is calculated from the round-trip time. The Earth's atmosphere slows down light. Assume the distance to the Moon is precisely 3.84 x 10* m, and Earth's atmosphere (which varies in density with altitude) is equivalent to a layer 20.0 km thick with a constant index of refraction n = 1.000293. What is the difference in travel time for light that travels only through space to the moon and back and light that travels through the atmosphere and space? difference in travel time: S Question Credit: OpenStax College Physics
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