Example from Physics, 16.2 Refraction

Calculating Index of Refraction from Speed

Calculate the index of refraction for a solid medium in which the speed of light is 2.012 $\times$ 10⁸ m/s, and identify the most likely substance, based on the previous table of indicies of refraction.

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Strategy
We know the speed of light, c, is 3.00 $\times$ 10⁸ m/s, and we are given v. We can simply plug these values into the equation for index of refraction, n.
Solution
$n = \frac{c}{v} = \frac{3.00 \times 10^{8} m/s}{2.012 \times 10^{8} m/s} = 1.49$
16.9

This value matches that of polystyrene exactly, according to the table of indices of refraction (Table 16.2).

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Strategy

Solution

Strategy

Solution