How is the refractive index of a medium related to the speed of
light? Obtain an expression for refractive index of a medium with
respect to another in terms of speed of light in these two media?
Ruhanika105:
Heya... do you also need the use of this formula in snell's law
Answers
Answered by
314
Heya..
Refractive index compares the speed of light in a particular medium with the speed of light in vaccum.
It measures the optical density of a medium.
It should not be confused with the mass density of the medium.
For turpentile oil, it's mass density is less than water but optical density is more than that of water.
Now, moving on to your question, the relation between refractive index and speed of light:
refractive index (mu) = c (speed of light in vaccum) / v(speed of light in any medium)
for vaccum, refractive index = 1
This relation is also used in Snell's law..
Let the refractive index of medium 1 be u1...and the speed of light in medium1 be v1.
Therefore, u1 = c / v1 ----------equation1.
Similarly,
Let the refractive index of medium2 be u2 ...and the speed of light in medium 2 be v2..
Therefore, u2 = c / v2-----------equation2
Now,
⇒ u1 sin i = u2 sin r
⇒ sin i / sin r = u2 / u1 (Using equation 1 and 2....)
⇒ sin i / sin r = c / v2 × v1 / c
⇒ sin i / sin r = v1 / v2
HOPE IT HELPS..
Refractive index compares the speed of light in a particular medium with the speed of light in vaccum.
It measures the optical density of a medium.
It should not be confused with the mass density of the medium.
For turpentile oil, it's mass density is less than water but optical density is more than that of water.
Now, moving on to your question, the relation between refractive index and speed of light:
refractive index (mu) = c (speed of light in vaccum) / v(speed of light in any medium)
for vaccum, refractive index = 1
This relation is also used in Snell's law..
Let the refractive index of medium 1 be u1...and the speed of light in medium1 be v1.
Therefore, u1 = c / v1 ----------equation1.
Similarly,
Let the refractive index of medium2 be u2 ...and the speed of light in medium 2 be v2..
Therefore, u2 = c / v2-----------equation2
Now,
⇒ u1 sin i = u2 sin r
⇒ sin i / sin r = u2 / u1 (Using equation 1 and 2....)
⇒ sin i / sin r = c / v2 × v1 / c
⇒ sin i / sin r = v1 / v2
HOPE IT HELPS..
Answered by
104
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