c) Refractive index

di) refraction of light; refractive index; n = c/v; nsinθ = constant at a boundary where θ is the angle to the normal

refractive index = how strongly a material refracts a wave passing through it

n = c/v

• refractive index of a material = speed of light in a vacuum (ms^-1) / speed of light in the material (ms^-1)

high refractive index → denser medium

law of refraction = when light passes through a boundary → ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction = constant

n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂

• refractive index of incident material × sine of the angle of incidence (°) = refractive index of refractive material × sine of the angle of refraction (°)

nsinθ = k

• refractive index × sine of the angle of incidence (°) = constant