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Oct 17, 2002, 8:57pm

[View Quote] Because all it's based on organization of the molecules. The only thing that's
different in air, water, or glass is organization... and the densities of glass and
air are completely different. So if light distance were based on
volume/density/whatever glass would stop light just like a brick would. But it
doesn't, neither does water. The only thing water does different from air or glass
(which refracts at nearly the same angle as air, so you don't "see" a difference) is
refract it at a very obvious angle. This causes the light to bed, therefore it
changes the wavelength, therefore human eyes don't see it as well. But, it does not
stop light like you said.

Theoretically if you had pure water with no molecular motion, you would see just as
far in water as you would in air. Of course you're also going to need to have the
light energy originate in the water itself. The reason why everything looks odd in
air and water is because light travels from air to water. But if it didn't do that
it would also be perfectly fine. But I never mentioned that the light source needed
to be out of water originally.

--Bowen--

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