why the refractive index has no unit
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Because the refractive index is expressed as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum relative to that in the considered medium .
As it is a ratio it is unitless .
The units m/s or km/h cancel out each other.
HENCE it has no units
Hope it helps
As it is a ratio it is unitless .
The units m/s or km/h cancel out each other.
HENCE it has no units
Hope it helps
Answered by
6
Refractive indices (singular: refractive index) have no units. This is because, as is evident, that they are ratios of speeds of light in a given pair of media.
Refractive index⇒ c/v
⇒(m/s⁻¹)÷(m/s⁻¹) {everything cancels out}
where : c=speed of light in vacuum
v= velocity of light in the given media
Another way to look at it is that it refractive indices are constant for a given pair of media (for eg. air and glass). And constants are dimensionless on their own.
Refractive index⇒ c/v
⇒(m/s⁻¹)÷(m/s⁻¹) {everything cancels out}
where : c=speed of light in vacuum
v= velocity of light in the given media
Another way to look at it is that it refractive indices are constant for a given pair of media (for eg. air and glass). And constants are dimensionless on their own.
Anonymous:
This one is way better than mine !!!
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