Optics & Waves
Intermediate

Refractive Index

Ratio of light speed in vacuum to that in a medium.

Formula

n=cvn = \frac{c}{v}

Variables

cSpeed of light
vSpeed in medium

Example

Water ≈ 1.33

Did You Know?

Diamond's very high refractive index traps and bounces light inside it, producing that famous sparkle.

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