Find out, from the given table, the medium having highest optical density. Also find the medium with lowest optical density.
Refractive indices of some material media (with respect to vacuum)
|
Maierial medium |
Refractive index |
Material medium |
Refractive index |
|
Air |
1.0003 |
Crown glass |
1.52 |
|
Ice |
1.31 |
Canada Balsam |
1.53 |
|
Water |
1.33 |
Rock salt |
1.54 |
|
Alcohol |
1.36 |
Carbon disulphide |
1.63 |
|
Kerosene |
1.44 |
Dense flint glass |
1.65 |
|
Fused quartz |
1.46 |
Ruby |
1.71 |
|
Turpentine oil |
1.47 |
Sapphire |
1.77 |
|
Benzene |
1.50 |
Diamond |
2.42 |
Optical density has a direct dependance on refractive index. The more optically dense a material is, slower it will move through the material.
From the table given, diamond has highest refractive index = 2.42, and so it has largest optical density.
Air has lowest refractive index = 1.0003, so it has lowest optical density.
Note: The refractive index of a material is the number of times slower the light wave will propagate in the material, than it is in the vacuum.
