What is Cherenkov radiation?
A) radiation that moves faster than the speed of light
B) radiation emitted directly from the core of the Sun to Earth
C) radiation emitted when a charged particle moves through a material medium faster than the speed of light through that medium
D) radiation emitted during the transformation of one kind of neutrino (electron, muon, or tau neutrino) to another kind of neutrino

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cherenkov radiation occurs when a charged particle, such as an electron, moves through a dielectric medium (like water or glass) at a speed greater than the phase velocity of light in that medium. This results in the emission of a characteristic blue glow, which is the Cherenkov radiation. It does not imply that anything is moving faster than the speed of light in a vacuum, which would violate the principles of relativity.

What Is Cherenkov Radiation