Can absolute value of refractive index be less than unity?a)Nob)Refractive index is always unityc)Depends on situationd)YesCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

Absolute refractive index of a medium = speed of light in vacuum / speed of light in in that medium.

Since the speed of light is maximum in vacuum, the refractive index cannot be less than unity.

Answer

The absolute refractive index = the ratio of the refractive index in free space and the refractive index in another medium . and since the value of refractive index in max. in free space therefore, it is never less than unity so, the answer is a) No

Answer

The refractive index is a fundamental property of a material that describes how light propagates through it. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the material. The refractive index is always a positive quantity because the speed of light in a medium is always less than or equal to the speed of light in vacuum. However, the absolute value of the refractive index can be less than unity in certain situations.

1. Refractive index less than unity:
- In rare cases, the refractive index of a material can be less than unity. This occurs when the speed of light in the material is greater than the speed of light in vacuum.
- This situation is observed in certain exotic materials known as metamaterials, which are engineered at the nanoscale to have unique optical properties.
- Metamaterials can exhibit negative refractive index, which means that light bends in the opposite direction compared to conventional materials.
- This property has interesting applications in the field of optics, such as cloaking devices and superlenses.

2. Normal refractive index values:
- In most materials, the refractive index is greater than unity. This is because the speed of light in a medium is always less than the speed of light in vacuum.
- The refractive index determines how much light is bent when it enters a different medium, such as when light passes from air to glass or from water to air.
- Different materials have different refractive indices, which can affect the behavior of light passing through them.
- For example, the refractive index of water is approximately 1.33, while the refractive index of diamond is around 2.42.

In conclusion, while the refractive index is typically greater than unity in most materials, there are certain exotic materials known as metamaterials that can exhibit refractive index values less than unity. These materials have unique optical properties and are of great interest in the field of optics and photonics.

Answer

C

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