7.6k views
8 votes
Define refractive index.​

User MikeZ
by
5.1k points

2 Answers

9 votes
the refractive index of a material is a dimensionless number that describes how fast light travels through the material. It is defined as n={\frac {c}{v}}, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the phase velocity of light in the medium.

the ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to its velocity in a specified medium.
User Mario Levrero
by
5.0k points
7 votes

Answer:

In optics, the refractive index of a material is a dimensionless number that describes how fast light travels through the material. It is defined as n={\frac {c}{v}}, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the phase velocity of light in the medium.

User Womd
by
4.5k points