The speed of light with the rise in the temperature of the medium

Options

A. increases
B. decreases
C. remains unaltered
D. drops suddenly

Answer

To answer the question regarding how the speed of light is affected by the rise in temperature of the medium, we can break down the solution into several steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Speed of Light**: The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (km/s). However, when light travels through different media (like air, water, or glass), its speed changes based on the properties of that medium.

2. **Role of Medium**: The speed of light is influenced by the medium it is traveling through. Each medium has a specific property known as the refractive index, which determines how much the speed of light is reduced compared to its speed in a vacuum.

3. **Effect of Temperature**: When we talk about the temperature of a medium, it is important to note that the refractive index can change with temperature. For example, in gases, an increase in temperature usually leads to a decrease in density, which can affect the refractive index.

4. **Conclusion on Speed of Light**: Despite the changes in refractive index due to temperature, the fundamental speed of light in a vacuum remains constant. The speed of light in a medium may change slightly with temperature, but it does not change in a way that is directly proportional to temperature. Therefore, the speed of light is primarily determined by the medium rather than the temperature.

5. **Final Answer**: The speed of light remains largely unaltered with the rise in temperature of the medium. Thus, the correct answer is that the speed of light does not change significantly with temperature.