The refractive index of diamond is 2.42. What is the meaning of this statement?
ScienceClass 10CBSEAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
A diamond has a refractive index of 2.42, which means that the speed of light in a diamond will reduce by a factor of 2.42 as compared to its speed in the air.
In other words, the speed of light in a diamond is 1/2.42 times the speed of light in a vacuum.
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