Physics Problem: Measuring the Distance to the Moon Through the Atmosphere

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. What percent correction is needed to account for the delay in time due to the slowing of light in Earth’s atmosphere? Assume the distance to the Moon is precisely 3.84×108m, and Earth’s atmosphere (which varies in density with altitude) is equivalent to a layer 30.0 km thick with a constant index of refraction 𝑛=1.000293.
I'm working through chapter summaries for introductory physics (algebra-based). I'm using the Openstax online (free) textbook College Physics. You can access this book here openstax.org/d...
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• Online Physics 2 2024

[@fizixx]

🌔 good problem

[@jamesgreenwood6997]

You would use the index of refraction of the atmosphere to calculate delta t of m because the index of refraction of space is zero.

[@jamesgreenwood6997]

It would be one, my mistake.

[@brookestephen]

u should not use the refractive index for the space between the edge of the Earth's atmosphere and the moon's surface!!! u should use the refractive index only for traversing the Earth's atmosphere!!!