Light propagates faster through a medium “A” than medium “b”
1. Which of these medium has a higher optical density ?
2. State the condition under which no change in direction of propagation of a light ray would take place when it passes through medium “a” to medium “b”
2) If the optical densities of both A and B are same.
Explanation:
The refractive index of a material determines the number of times the velocity of light in that material is slower than the velocity of light in a vacuum.
The higher refractive index means slower propagation of the light in that medium.
The refractive index of the medium determines the optical density of the medium.
If the material has a higher refractive index, then its optical density is high.
If the material has a low refractive index, then its optical density is low.
The light bends towards the normal while refracting through the medium from a lower optical density medium to the higher optical density medium.
If both the mediums has the same optical density, the direction of propagation doesn't change.