For which of the following media is the absolute refractive index almost equal to one?
Air
The correct answer is Air.
It can also be calculated as the ratio of the absolute refractive index of medium 2 to the absolute refractive index of medium 1 ($\text{n}_{21} = \text{v}_1 / \text{v}_2 = \text{n}_2 / \text{n}_1$). Absolute refractive index is essentially the relative refractive index with respect to vacuum. The refractive index of a medium can slightly vary with temperature and the wavelength of light. The values commonly listed are typically for a specific temperature and wavelength (often yellow light).
Important Questions from Polarization by Reflection
What is the absolute refractive index of kerosene?
The refractive index of water \(_a\mu_w=\frac{4}{3}\) and refractive index of glass \(_a\mu_g=\frac{3}{2}\) . A lens placed in air has focal length 10 cm. What will be its focal length if placed inside water?
The refractive index of water and dense flint glass are 1.33 and 1.65, respectively. A ray of light travels from dense flint glass to water. The refractive index of water with respect to dense flint glass is _______ and the light ray bends _______ the normal in water.
The refractive indices of quartz crystal for right handed and left handed circularly polarized light of wavelength 762.9 nm are 1.5391 and 1.5392 respectively. The angle of rotation produced by the crystal plate of thickness 0.5 mm is:
A ray of light is incident on a transparent medium at an angle of 60°. The reflected ray of light is found to be completely polarised. Then, the refractive index of the transparent medium is nearly:
