If the speed of light in vacuum is 3 x 10^8 m/s, what is its speed in a medium with refractive index 1.5?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
If the speed of light in vacuum is 3 x 10^8 m/s, what is its speed in a medium with refractive index 1.5?
2 x 10^8 m/s
2.5 x 10^8 m/s
3 x 10^8 m/s
1.5 x 10^8 m/s
The speed of light in a medium is given by v = c/n, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and n is the refractive index. Thus, v = 3 x 10^8 m/s / 1.5 = 2 x 10^8 m/s.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: If the speed of light in vacuum is 3 x 10^8 m/s, what is its speed in a medium with refractive index 1.5?
Solution: The speed of light in a medium is given by v = c/n, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and n is the refractive index. Thus, v = 3 x 10^8 m/s / 1.5 = 2 x 10^8 m/s.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Identify the speed of light in vacuum, which is given as 3 x 10^8 m/s.
Step 2: Identify the refractive index of the medium, which is given as 1.5.
Step 3: Use the formula for the speed of light in a medium, which is v = c/n.
Step 4: Substitute the values into the formula: v = (3 x 10^8 m/s) / 1.5.
Step 5: Perform the division: 3 x 10^8 m/s divided by 1.5 equals 2 x 10^8 m/s.
Step 6: Conclude that the speed of light in the medium is 2 x 10^8 m/s.
