The speed of light in a certain medium is 2.2 × 10⁸ m/s. What is the index of refraction of this medium? A) 1.0 B) 1.2 C) 1.4 D) 1.6 E) 1.8

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The index of refraction, n, is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium: n = c/v, where c is the speed of light in vacuum (3.0 × 10^8 m/s) and v is the speed of light in the medium. Therefore, n = 3.0 × 10^8 m/s / 2.2 × 10^8 m/s = 1.36. The closest answer choice is C, which is 1.4.

The Speed of Light in a Certain Medium Is 2