State the laws of refraction of light. Explain the term ‘absolute refractive index of a medium’ and write an expression to relate it with the speed of light in vacuum.
State the laws of refraction of light. Explain the term ‘absolute refractive index of a medium’ and write an expression to relate it with the speed of light in vacuum.
Official answer
The laws of refraction of light are:
- The incident ray, the refracted ray, and the normal to the interface at the point of incidence all lie in the same plane.
- The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is constant for a given pair of media.
The absolute refractive index of a medium is the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium. It is expressed as:
μ = c / v
where μ is the absolute refractive index, c is the speed of light in vacuum, and v is the speed of light in the medium.
Hint
Recall the laws of refraction of light and the definition of absolute refractive index.
Quick oral answer
The laws of refraction of light describe how light behaves when it passes from one medium to another. The absolute refractive index of a medium is a measure of how much the speed of light is reduced inside the medium.
Common mistakes
- 1.thinking that the absolute refractive index is a ratio of sines of angles
Analysis and explanation
The question asks for the laws of refraction of light and an explanation of the term 'absolute refractive index of a medium'. The laws of refraction of light are fundamental principles that describe how light behaves when it passes from one medium to another. The absolute refractive index of a medium is a measure of how much the speed of light is reduced inside the medium.
Interesting facts
The absolute refractive index of a medium is a fundamental property that determines the behavior of light in the medium.
Question details
Q11 of 27 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 10
- Subject
- Science
- Year
- 2018
- Section
- Section A
- Marks
- 3
- Type
- Short Answer
- Chapter
- Light — Reflection and Refraction
- Topic
- Refraction of Light
- Bloom's level
- Understanding
- Syllabus topic
- Refraction of Light
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Frequently asked questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2018?
This question carries 3 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Light — Reflection and Refraction" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Refraction of Light" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 paper?
This is a Short Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 paper.