Final answer:
The speed of light in various materials is calculated using the index of refraction for each material. By applying the formula u = c/n, where c is the speed of light in vacuum, and n is the material's index of refraction, the speeds are computed for diamond, crown glass, water, and ice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speed of light in a material can be found using the index of refraction of that material.
The index of refraction (n) is the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum (c) to the speed of light in the material (u). The formula to calculate this is n = c/u, which can be rearranged to find u: u = c/n.
Here are the calculations for the speed of light in different materials:
Diamond (n = 2.42): u = c/n
= 3.00 × 10¸ m/s / 2.42
≈ 1.24 × 10¸ m/s
Crown glass (n = 1.52): u = c/n
= 3.00 × 10¸ m/s / 1.52
≈ 1.97 × 10¸ m/s
Water (n = 1.33): u = c/n
= 3.00 × 10¸ m/s / 1.33
≈ 2.26 × 10¸ m/s
Ice (n = 1.30): u = c/n
= 3.00 × 10¸ m/s / 1.30
≈ 2.31 × 10¸ m/s
By inputting the given indexes of refraction and the constant speed of light in a vacuum, we calculate the speed of light in these materials.