If the refractive index of a medium is 1.5, what is the speed of light in that m
Practice Questions
Q1
If the refractive index of a medium is 1.5, what is the speed of light in that medium?
2 x 10^8 m/s
3 x 10^8 m/s
1.5 x 10^8 m/s
4.5 x 10^8 m/s
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the refractive index of a medium is 1.5, what is the speed of light in that medium?
Step 1: Understand that the speed of light in a medium can be calculated using the formula v = c/n.
Step 2: Identify the value of c, which is the speed of light in a vacuum. It is approximately 3 x 10^8 meters per second (m/s).
Step 3: Identify the refractive index (n) of the medium, which is given as 1.5.
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 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.
Refractive Index – The refractive index (n) of a medium is a dimensionless number that describes how light propagates through that medium, defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum (c) to the speed of light in the medium (v).
Speed of Light in a Medium – The speed of light in a medium can be calculated using the formula v = c/n, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum and n is the refractive index of the medium.
