(a) Which one of the two media is denser w.r.t. other medium? Justify your answer (based on a ray entering from medium A to B).
(b) If the speed of light in medium A is and in medium B is , what is the refractive index of B with respect to A.
OR
(a) A ray of light starting from diamond is incident on the interface separating diamond and water. Draw a labelled ray diagram to show the refraction of light in this case.
(b) Absolute refractive indices of diamond and water are 2.42 and 1.33 respectively. Find the value of refractive index of water w.r.t. diamond.
(a) Which one of the two media is denser w.r.t. other medium? Justify your answer (based on a ray entering from medium A to B).
(b) If the speed of light in medium A is and in medium B is , what is the refractive index of B with respect to A.
OR
(a) A ray of light starting from diamond is incident on the interface separating diamond and water. Draw a labelled ray diagram to show the refraction of light in this case.
(b) Absolute refractive indices of diamond and water are 2.42 and 1.33 respectively. Find the value of refractive index of water w.r.t. diamond.
The medium with the higher refractive index is denser. The refractive index of B with respect to A is given by nBA = vA / v_B.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for correct answer
- 21 mark for correct explanation
Hint
The refractive index of a medium is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium.
Quick Oral Answer
The refractive index of a medium is a measure of how much it bends light. A higher refractive index indicates that the medium bends light more strongly. In this case, the refractive index of medium B with respect to medium A is given by n_BA = v_A / v_B. This means that if the speed of light in medium A is v_A and the speed of light in medium B is v_B, then the refractive index of medium B with respect to medium A is v_A / v_B.
Analysis & Explanation
The refractive index of a medium is a measure of how much it bends light. A higher refractive index indicates that the medium bends light more strongly. In this case, the refractive index of medium B with respect to medium A is given by nBA = vA / vB. This means that if the speed of light in medium A is vA and the speed of light in medium B is vB, then the refractive index of medium B with respect to medium A is vA / v_B.
Common Mistakes
- 1confusing refractive index with speed of light
- 2not using the correct formula for refractive index
Interesting Facts
The refractive index of a medium can be used to determine the speed of light in that medium.
The refractive index of a medium is a dimensionless quantity.
Spotted a mistake or something unclear?
Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2023?
This question carries 2 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2023 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Chemical Reactions and Equations" 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 2023 paper?
This is a Very Short Answer question from Section Section B in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2023 paper.