Question

If the speed of light in a medium is 1.5 x 108 m/s. What is the absolute refractive index of the medium?

Answer 1

Given - Speed of light in a medium - 1.5*10^8 m/s

Find - Absolute refractive index of the medium.

Solution - To find absolute refractive index of the medium ratio of speed of light in vacuum to speed of light in medium is calculated. It is given by the formula -

n = c/v

In the formula, n is refractive index, c is speed of light in vacuum and V is speed of light in medium.

Keeping the values in equation-

n = 3*10^8/1.5*10^8

n = 2

Thus, absolute refractive index of medium is 2.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Given: Speed of light in medium (v₂) =

1.5 x 108 m/s,

velocity of light in vacuum (v₁) = 3 × 108

m/s

To find: Absolute refractive index (n)

Formula: n V1 V2

Calculation: From formula,

3 × 108 1.5 × 108 n = 2

The absolute refractive index of the medium is 2.