Home › Scottish National 5 › Physics › Mirrors and Lenses › The index of refraction n of a material is defin…
The index of refraction n of a material is defined using which ratio?
ASpeed of light in the material over its speed in a vacuum
BWavelength in a vacuum divided by the frequency in the material
CSpeed of light in a vacuum divided by its speed in the material
DFrequency in the material divided by the frequency in a vacuum
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Speed of light in a vacuum divided by its speed in the material
1. The index of refraction, n, is defined as the speed of light in a vacuum divided by the speed of light in the material.
2. Because the speed in the material is always less than or equal to the vacuum speed, n comes out greater than or equal to one.
3. Writing the ratio upside down, or using frequency instead of speed, does not match this stated definition.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 16 "Mirrors and Lenses", section 16.2 Refraction_
Related questions
In an eye where the lens-to-retina distance is fixed at 2.00 cm, an object sits 50.0 cm awA lens produces a 5.00 cm tall image of an 8.00 cm tall object when the object is placed 1A book page is held 6.50 cm from a concave lens whose focal length is -10.0 cm. Using d_i A light bulb sits 0.75 m from a convex lens with a 0.50 m focal length. Using d_i equals fA lens has a focal length of 12.5 cm. Using P equals 1 over f, what is its power?Sunlight is focused by a magnifying glass to a bright spot 8.00 cm from the lens. Using P The thin-lens equation used for lenses is the same equation used earlier for curved mirrorWhat kind of spectacle lens corrects farsightedness, and how does it help?