Final answer:
The speed of light in a vacuum is a universal constant. The index of refraction of a material is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in that material. By using the formula n = c/v, we can find the velocity of light in a vacuum when given the speed of light in a material and the index of refraction of that material.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speed of light in a vacuum is a universal constant, approximately 3.00 × 108 m/s. The index of refraction of a material is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in that material. The speed of light in water is given as 2.25 × 108 m/s. Given that the index of refraction of water is 4/3, we can find the velocity of light in a vacuum.
Using the formula n = c/v, where n is the index of refraction, c is the speed of light in a vacuum, and v is the speed of light in the material, we have:
4/3 = (3.00 × 108 m/s) / v
Solving for v, we find:
v = (3.00 × 108 m/s) / (4/3) = 2.25 × 108 m/s