Relative refractive index is ratio of wave speeds¶
If a wave is moving from one medium to another, it refracts due to the difference of propagation speeds in the two media. Relative refractive index describes how much slower the wave propagates in the refracting medium relative to the incident medium.
Conditions:
Both media are isotropic and transparent.
The wave is monochromatic. Note that the speed of wave propagation depends on the wave frequency.
Links:
- relative_refractive_index¶
relative_refractive_indexbetween the two media.- Symbol:
n- Latex:
\(n\)
- Dimension:
dimensionless
- incident_wave_speed¶
phase_speedof the incident wave.- Symbol:
v_incident- Latex:
\(v_\text{incident}\)
- Dimension:
velocity
- refracted_wave_speed¶
phase_speedof the refracted wave.- Symbol:
v_refracted- Latex:
\(v_\text{refracted}\)
- Dimension:
velocity
- definition¶
n = v_incident / v_refracted- Latex:
- \[n = \frac{v_\text{incident}}{v_\text{refracted}}\]