Question

Absolute refractive indices of two media P and Q are 1.33 (nP) and 2.52 (nQ) respectively. The speed of light in medium P is 2 x 10^8 m/s.

(a) What would be the speed of light in medium Q (VQ)?

(b) If the angle of incidence for a ray of light travelling from medium P to Q is 0°, then what will be the path of light in the medium Q?

Answer 1

(a) n_P = (Speed of light in vacuum/ speed of light in medium P) 

n_q = (Speed of light in vacuum/ speed of light in medium Q)  

Therefore,

n_P/n_Q = V_Q/V_P 

= 1.33/2.52 = V_Q / 2 x 10^8 

V_Q = (1.33 x 2 x 108)/ 2.52 

= 1.056 x 10^8 m/s

(b) the ray will travel undeviated through the medium Q