Q&A for How to Calculate the Refractive Index in Physics

Physics is an important concept in life, and learning physics can explain the causes of phenomenons that are happening around you all the time. Also, the history of important scientists in physics can be both inspiring and informative.

Generally, we consider the angle made by the refracted ray with the normal. The angle shown here is equal to it, so it's accurate.

We need to place the object at distance less than focus for a concave mirror and convex lens; convex mirror and concave lens always gives virtual image.

Refractive index of the second medium (in which the refractive ray travels) with respect to the first medium (in which the incident ray travels) is the ratio of sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction. So, in this case, the refractive index is sin 30 / sin 60, which calculates to 1/root 3=1/1.732, equal to 0.6.

Please define the angle. 1.) Is it an incident angle? If yes, we also need the refractive angle to calculate refractive index. 2.) Is it a refractive angle? If yes, we also need the incident angle to calculate refractive index. 3.) Is it the angle of the prism?

The speed of light changes in certain media. The refractive index is effectively just the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light through the medium. So all you need to do is divide the speed of light by the refractive index of the medium to find the speed of light through that particular medium.