What is the refractive index?
GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
The refractive index (RI) is a dimensionless number that describes how light propagates through a medium. It measures how much light bends (refracts) when passing from one material to another. Specifically, it represents the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to its speed in a given material. A higher refractive index indicates that light travels more slowly through that substance, causing greater bending of light rays.
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