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PhysicsCLASS 10CBSE
answered 28 May 2026

What is refractive index?

A.VERIFIED ANSWERfact-checked by tutors

Refractive index measures how much light slows down when passing from vacuum into a medium.

Formula: n = c / v (speed of light in vacuum / speed in medium)

MediumRefractive Index
Vacuum1.00
Water1.33
Glass~1.5
Diamond2.42

Diamond's high refractive index (2.42) causes brilliant sparkle through total internal reflection.

Refractive index measures how much a medium slows down light compared to vacuum, determining how much the light bends.

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