PHYSICAL QUANTITY

Refractive index: formulas and units of measurement

Refractive index: symbol n, unit dimensionless. Formulas and explanations for Optics.

nn\text{безразм.}dimensionless quantity

KEY CONNECTIONS

Formulas

n=\frac{\sin\alpha}{\sin\gamma}n = sin α / sin γ

n=\frac{v_1}{v_2}n = v₁ / v₂

n=\frac{\lambda_1}{\lambda_2}n = λ₁ / λ₂

\sin\alpha_0=\frac{1}{n}sin α₀ = 1 / n

n=\frac{n_2}{n_1}n = n₂ / n₁

NOTATION

n: The refractive index is a characteristic of the retardation of light in a medium.
\alpha: Angle of incidence - the angle between the incident ray and the normal to the surface.
\gamma: The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted ray and the normal to the surface.
v_1: The speed of light in the first medium is the speed of light propagation in the first medium.
v_2: The speed of light in the second medium is the speed of light propagation in the second medium.
\lambda_1: The wavelength in the first medium is the spatial period of light in the first medium.
\lambda_2: The wavelength in the second medium is the spatial period of light in the second medium.
\alpha_0: The limiting angle is the angle of incidence at which total internal reflection begins.
n_2: The refractive index of the second medium is the optical characteristic of the second medium.
n_1: The refractive index of the first medium is the optical characteristic of the first medium.

THEORY

PRACTICE