c) Refractive index

• refractive index

• a measure of how strongly a material refracts light passing through it

• the formula for refractive index

• n = c/v

  • n = refractive index

  • c = the speed of light in a vacuum (ms^-1)

  • v = speed of light in the material (ms^-1)

• the formula for the refractive index of a material including the critical angle

• n = 1/sinC

  • n = refractive index

  • C = critical angle (°)

• the law of refraction

• when light passes through a boundary

• sin(i)/sin(r) = constant

• the formula for the law of refraction

• n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂

  • n₁ = refractive index of the incident material

  • θ₁ = angle of incidence (°)

  • n₂ = refractive index of the refractive material

  • θ₂ = angle of refraction (°)