LightRefraction |
What is the index of refraction for light traveling through different media? |
The following are some sample indices of refraction. The index of refraction, represented by n, is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum divided by the speed of light in the material. The larger the index of refraction, the greater the bending that takes place.
| Medium | Index of Refraction (n) |
| Vacuum | 1.00 |
| Air (usually rounded to 1.0) | 1.003 |
| Water | 1.33 |
| Crown glass | 1.52 |
| Quartz | 1.54 |
| Flint glass | 1.61 |
| Diamond | 2.42 |