If the speed of light in vacuum is 3 x 10^8 m/s, what is the speed of light in a medium with a refractive index of 1.5?

1 question

1 item

Q: If the speed of light in vacuum is 3 x 10^8 m/s, what is the speed of light in a medium with a refractive index of 1.5?

Solution: Speed of light in medium = c/n = (3 x 10^8 m/s) / 1.5 = 2 x 10^8 m/s.

Steps: 6

Step 1: Understand that the speed of light in a vacuum is given as 3 x 10^8 meters per second (m/s).
Step 2: Know that the refractive index (n) of a medium tells us how much the speed of light is reduced in that medium. Here, n = 1.5.
Step 3: Use the formula to find the speed of light in the medium: Speed of light in medium = Speed of light in vacuum / Refractive index.
Step 4: Plug in the values: Speed of light in medium = (3 x 10^8 m/s) / 1.5.
Step 5: Perform the division: 3 x 10^8 divided by 1.5 equals 2 x 10^8 m/s.
Step 6: Conclude that the speed of light in the medium with a refractive index of 1.5 is 2 x 10^8 m/s.