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What is Refractive Index?

Explain....

Hi,

Refraction of  light  occurs  when a  ray of light travels from one medium to another .When it enters into a different medium the light bends towards the normal.

 

This extent of bending of light depends upon the refractive index of the medium.

Refractive index of a substance is the ratio of speed of light in vaccum to the speed of light in the given substance.

Cheers!!

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View Full Answer

 The refractive index or index of refraction of a substance is a measure of the speed of light t in that substance. It is expressed as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum relative to that in the considered medium.

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 thank you....but i want to know what exactly it is...not the definition

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it can also be explained as the ratio of sine of angle of incidence  to the sine of angel of refraction 

sin (i) / sin(r)  = n21

where i = angel of incidence 

           r = angel of refraction 

           n21=refractive index of the second medium with respect to the first medium 

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Refractive index or index of refraction of a substance is the measure of speed of light in that substance.It is expressed as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum relative to the speed of light in a considered medium.The mathematical expression of refractive index is as follows -

n = speed of light in vacuum/speed of light in a medium.

For example if the refractive index of water is 1.33 it means that the speed of light in vacuum is 1.33 times as fast as than in water.

  • 26

 oh! thank you so much!it was of great help!

  • -1

 plz give me thumbs up aditi.

  • -11

Aditi please give me one thumbs up at bagchi.rohan plz

  • 3

 ok... i will bagchi!

  • -5

Why didnt u give me any thumbs up aditi?

  • -2

 i gave...see properly!

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