Refractive Index Quiz

Refractive Index

Definition

• The refractive index (n) is a measure of how much a light beam is bent when it passes from one medium to another.
• It is a dimensionless quantity that describes the amount of refraction caused by a medium.

Formula

• n = c / v
  • n: refractive index
  • c: speed of light in vacuum (approximately 3 x 10^8 m/s)
  • v: speed of light in the medium

Refractive Indices of Common Materials

• Air: 1.00
• Water: 1.33
• Glass: 1.50 - 1.90
• Diamond: 2.42

Snell's Law

• Describes the refraction of light as it passes from one medium to another
• n1 sin(θ1) = n2 sin(θ2)
  • n1 and n2: refractive indices of the two media
  • θ1 and θ2: angles of incidence and refraction, respectively

Total Internal Reflection

• Occurs when light travels from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index
• If the angle of incidence is greater than a certain critical angle, the light is completely reflected back into the first medium
• Critical angle (θc): sin(θc) = n2 / n1

Refractive Index

Definition and Formula

• Refractive index (n) measures how much a light beam is bent when passing from one medium to another.
• It's a dimensionless quantity describing the refraction caused by a medium.
• n = c / v, where c is the speed of light in vacuum ( approximately 3 x 10^8 m/s) and v is the speed of light in the medium.

Refractive Indices of Common Materials

• Air: 1.00
• Water: 1.33
• Glass: 1.50 - 1.90
• Diamond: 2.42

Snell's Law and Refraction

• Describes the refraction of light as it passes from one medium to another.
• n1 sin(θ1) = n2 sin(θ2), where n1 and n2 are refractive indices and θ1 and θ2 are angles of incidence and refraction.

Total Internal Reflection

• Occurs when light travels from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index.
• If the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, the light is completely reflected back into the first medium.
• Critical angle (θc): sin(θc) = n2 / n1.