In this podcast episode, the host tackles listener questions about the index of refraction, specifically exploring why light bends when it slows down and how it's possible to have an index of refraction less than 1. He explains that this bending happens due to a change in wavelength as light enters a new medium, which causes a phase shift that changes the angle of the wave. The host also addresses the misconception that an index of refraction less than 1 suggests faster-than-light travel, clarifying that it actually pertains to the phase velocity of the wave, not the speed at which information is transmitted. To make these concepts more relatable, the episode includes helpful analogies, such as a car making a turn and a rotating arm machine.
