Question
Explain the term absolute refractive index.
✓
Answer
Absolute refractive index: The refractive Index of medium with respect to vacuum is called the absolute refractive index of the medium. It is ratio of the speed of light in vacuum (c) to the speed of the light in the medium (v) and is denoted by nm
...(9.14)
→The absolute refractive index of a mourn is simply called its refractive index.
→e.g.. If the speed of light in glass is 2x 108 ms-1, absolute refractive index of glass
$n_9-\frac{3 \times 10^6}{2 \times 10^7}=1.5$
→The absolute refractive index of any medium is greater than 1.
Table 2: Absolute refractive index of some material media
Note from Table 2 that an optically denser medium may not possess greater mass density.
For example, kerosene having higher refractive index is optically denser than water, although its mass density is less than that of water.
...(9.14)→The absolute refractive index of a mourn is simply called its refractive index.
→e.g.. If the speed of light in glass is 2x 108 ms-1, absolute refractive index of glass
$n_9-\frac{3 \times 10^6}{2 \times 10^7}=1.5$
→The absolute refractive index of any medium is greater than 1.
Table 2: Absolute refractive index of some material media
| Material medium | Refractive index |
| Air | 1.0003 |
| Ice | 1.31 |
| Water | 1.33 |
| Alcohol | 1.36 |
| Keгosene | 1.44 |
| Fused quartz | 1.46 |
| Turpentine oil | 1.47 |
| Benzene | 1.50 |
| Crown glass | 1.52 |
| Material medium | Refractive index |
| Canada balsam | 1.53 |
| Rock salt | 1.54 |
| Carbon disulphide | 1.63 |
| Dense flint glass | 1.65 |
| Ruby | 1.71 |
| Sapphire | 1.77 |
| Diamond | 2.42 |
For example, kerosene having higher refractive index is optically denser than water, although its mass density is less than that of water.
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