Index of refraction

Question

Material Speed of Light (m/s) Index of Refraction
Air 300,000,000 1.00
Water 225,000,000 1.33
Diamond 124,000,000 2.42
Glass ????????? 1.50

As light slows down, it bends or refracts. The index of refraction helps predict the amount of bending. How are the speed of light and the index of refraction related?
Responses
A The speed of light is a constant in all materials.The speed of light is a constant in all materials.
B The index is proportional to the speed of light in the medium.The index is proportional to the speed of light in the medium.
C The index is inversely proportional to the speed of light in the medium.The index is inversely proportional to the speed of light in the medium.
D The index is proportional to the square of the speed of light in the medium.The index is proportional to the square of the speed of light in the medium.
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Answer 1

The relationship between the speed of light in a medium and the index of refraction is given by the formula:

\[ n = \frac{c}{v} \]

where:

• \( n \) is the index of refraction,
• \( c \) is the speed of light in a vacuum (approximately \( 300,000,000 \) m/s),
• \( v \) is the speed of light in the medium.

From this equation, we can see that as the speed of light (\( v \)) decreases in a medium, the index of refraction (\( n \)) increases. Therefore, the index of refraction is inversely proportional to the speed of light in the medium.

So the correct response is:

C. The index is inversely proportional to the speed of light in the medium.