Question

Light travels through a material at a speed of 2.1 x 108 m/s. What is the index of
refraction for the material?

Answer 1

Answer:

Refractive index is 1.43

Explanation:

We are given;

• The speed of light through a material as 2.1 × 10^8 m/s

We are required to determine the refractive index of the material.

• We need to know refractive index may be given by the formula;
• Refractive index = Speed of light in air ÷ speed of light in a material

The speed of light in air is 3.0 × 10^8 m/s

Therefore;

Refractive index = 3.0 × 10^8 m/s ÷ 2.1 × 10^8 m/s

                            = 1.4286

                            = 1.43

Thus, the refractive index of the material is 1.43