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Question
Define the refractive index of a medium.
Solution
The amount of refraction of light in a medium is denoted by a term known as the refractive index of the medium, which is the ratio of the speed of light in the air to the speed of light in that particular medium.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Find out, from Table, the medium having highest optical density. Also find the medium with lowest optical density.
| Material medium | Refractive index | Material medium | Refractive index |
| Air | 1.0003 | Canada Balsam | 1.53 |
| Ice | 1.31 | – | – |
| Water | 1.33 | Rock salt | 1.54 |
| Alcohol | 1.36 | – | – |
| Kerosene | 1.44 | Carbon disulphide | 1.63 |
| Fused quartz | 1.46 | Dense flint glass | 1.65 |
| Turpentine oil | 1.47 | Ruby | 1.71 |
| Benzene | 1.50 | Sapphire | 1.77 |
| Crown glass | 1.52 | Diamond | .42 |
You are given kerosene, turpentine and water. In which of these does the light travel fastest? Use the information given in Table.
| Material medium |
Refractive index | Material medium | Refractive index |
| Air | 1.0003 | Canada Balsam | 1.53 |
| Ice | 1.31 | – | – |
| Water | 1.33 | Rock salt | 1.54 |
| Alcohol | 1.36 | – | – |
| Kerosene | 1.44 | Carbon disulphide | 1.63 |
| Fused quartz |
1.46 | Dense flint glass |
1.65 |
| Turpentine oil | 1.47 | Ruby | 1.71 |
| Benzene | 1.50 | Sapphire | 1.77 |
| Crown glass |
1.52 | Diamond | 2.42 |
Which has higher refraction index : water of glass?
If the refractive index for light going from air to diamond be 2.42, what will be the refractive index from light going from diamond to air?
The speed of light in vacuum and in two different glasses is given in the table below:
| Medium | Speed of light |
| Vacuum | 3.00 × 108 m/s |
| Flint glass | 1.86 × 108 m/s |
| Crown glass | 1.97 × 108 m/s |
(a) Calculate the absolute refractive indexes of flint glass and crown glass.
(b) Calculate the relative refractive index for light going from crown glass to flint glass.
The speed of light in water is 2.25 × 108 m/s. If the speed of light in vacuum be 3 × 108 m/s, calculate the refractive index of water.
Refractive indices of water, sulphuric acid, glass and carbon disulphide are 1.33, 1.43, 1.53 and 1.63 respectively. the light travels slowest in:
(a) sulphuric acid
(b) glass
(c) water
(d) carbon disulphide
State the laws of refraction of light. Explain the term 'absolute refractive index of a medium' and write an expression to relate it with the speed of light in vacuum.
Light travels with a velocity 1.5 x 108 m/s in a medium. On entering second medium its velocity becomes 0.75 x 108 m/s. What is the refractive index of the second medium with respect to the first medium?
| The ability of medium to refract light is expressed in terms of its optical density. Optical density has a definite connotation. It is not the same as mass density. On comparing two media, the one with the large refractive index is optically denser medium than the other. The other medium with a lower refractive index is optically rarer. Also the speed of light through a given medium is inversely proportional to its optical density. |
- Determine the speed of light in diamond if the refractive index of diamond with respect to vacuum is 2.42. Speed of light in vacuum is 3 × 108 m/s.
- Refractive indices of glass, water and carbon disulphide are 1.5, 1.33 and 1.62 respectively. If a ray of light is incident in these media at the same angle (say θ), then write the increasing order of the angle of refraction in these media.
- (A) The speed of light in glass is 2 × 108 m/s and is water is 2.25 × 108 m/s.
(a) Which one of the two optically denser and why?
(b) A ray of light is incident normally at the water glass interface when it enters a thick glass container filled with water. What will happen to the path of the ray after entering the glass? Give reason.
OR
(B) The absolute refractive indices of glass and water are 4/3 and 3/2, respectively. If the speed of light in glass is 2 × 108 m/s, calculate the speed of light in (i) vacuum (ii) water.
