Refractive Index
- Created by: Jo Wells
- Created on: 22-04-13 19:14
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- Refractive Index
- refraction is caused by waves changing speed
- waves change direction when they enter a different medium - caused by the change in density
- when waves slow down they bend towards the normal
- when light enters glass/plastic it slows down (to about 2/3 of its speed in air)
- if a wave hits a boundary at 90 degrees it won't change direction, but will slow down
- when light hits a different medium, some of the light will be reflected
- depends on the angle of incidence
- every transparent material has a refractive index
- refractive index of a medium is the ratio of speed of light in a vacuum to speed of light in that medium
- angle of incidence (i), angle of refraction (r) & refractive index (n) are all linked
- refractive index (n) = sin i/ sin r
- when an incident ray passes from air into another material, the angle of refraction of the ray depends on the refractive index of the material
- angle of incidence (i), angle of refraction (r) & refractive index (n) are all linked
- refractive index (n) = sin i/ sin r
- angle of incidence (i), angle of refraction (r) & refractive index (n) are all linked
- refraction is caused by waves changing speed
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