Question

A light ray traveling in air enters a second

medium and its speed slows to 1.71 × 10^8 meters
per second. What is the absolute index of
refraction of the second medium?
(1) 1.00 (3) 1.75
(2) 0.570 (4) 1.94

Answer 1

The index of refraction of the second medium is approximately 1.75.

Step-by-step explanation:

The index of refraction of a medium is calculated using the formula n = c/u, where n is the index of refraction, c is the speed of light in vacuum, and u is the speed of light in the medium. In this question, the speed of light in air is equal to the speed of light in vacuum. So, the index of refraction of air is 1.00. Given that the speed of light in the second medium is 1.71 × 10^8 m/s, we can calculate the index of refraction of the second medium by dividing the speed of light in vacuum (3.00 × 10^8 m/s) by the speed of light in the second medium. This gives us an index of refraction of approximately 1.75.

Answer 2

Light travels at 300,000,000 meters per second, in scientific notation 3 * 10^8 meters per second. Note that in the medium it travels at 1.71 * 10^8. Taking the ratio of these two numbers with the final speed over the initial speed, we get (1.71*10^8)/(3*10^8) = 1.71/3 = 0.57

Your answer is (2) 0.570