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Why the index of refraction is greater than to one?
It is because the index is related to the velocity of light in air (ideally vacuum) and the medium in question. Since the velocity of light in vacuum is greater than it can be in any other media, the index of refraction of these other media relative to the vacuum is greater than 1.However, if you studied light travelling through glass and then water, the index of refraction between those two would be 0.89 (approx).
Does the index of refraction equal the angle of refraction?
Not exactly, the angle of refraction = the angle of incidence, which means the ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction is constant for two media. That is sin i /sin r = constant , and this constant is called refractive index
When the incident angle equals the transmitted angle?
Either when they are both 0 degrees (the incident ray is perpendicular to the surface) or the refractive indices of the two media are the same.Either when they are both 0 degrees (the incident ray is perpendicular to the surface) or the refractive indices of the two media are the same.Either when they are both 0 degrees (the incident ray is perpendicular to the surface) or the refractive indices of the two media are the same.Either when they are both 0 degrees (the incident ray is perpendicular to the surface) or the refractive indices of the two media are the same.
How do you work out the angle of incidence and refraction?
Both can be calculated easily using Snell's Law, which you can find easily online. However to use Snell's law you will need one of the angle of incidence or refraction as well as the refractive index of the media the light ray passes through
What is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a different medium?
This is called the index of refraction. When light crosses the boundary between mediums (media) with different indices, it is bent (refracted).It's usually defined the other way around ... the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to its speed in the medium. Since the speed of light is greater in vacuum than in any medium, the number is always greater than 1. It's referred to as the "refractive index" of the medium.
