Understanding Index of Refraction: Application in Helium-Neon Laser Beam
What is the index of refraction of the unknown liquid?
Given a helium-neon laser beam with a wavelength of 633 nm traveling through 26.0 cm of an unknown liquid in 1.44 ns. What is the index of refraction of the liquid?
Calculation of Index of Refraction
The index of refraction of the unknown liquid can be calculated using the formula:
[Фliq= (Фair * d) / (c * t)]
Where:
Фliq = Index of refraction of the liquid
Фair = Wavelength in air (633 nm)
d = Distance traveled through the liquid (26.0 cm = 0.26 m)
c = Speed of light (3 x 10⁸ m/s)
t = Time taken for light to travel through the liquid (1.44 ns = 1.44 x 10⁹ s)
Calculating the index of refraction:
Фliq = [(633 x 10⁹) * 0.26] / [(3 x 10⁸) * (1.44 x 10⁹)]
Фliq = 4.32 x 10⁻⁸
Understanding Index of Refraction
Index of refraction is a measure of how light propagates through a medium compared to its speed in a vacuum. In the case of the helium-neon laser beam traveling through the unknown liquid, the index of refraction was calculated to be 4.32 x 10⁻⁸.
This calculation demonstrates the application of index of refraction in determining the optical properties of different mediums. The speed of light in a medium is affected by its refractive index, which plays a crucial role in various optical phenomena.
By understanding the index of refraction and its calculation, scientists and researchers can analyze the behavior of light in different mediums, leading to advancements in fields such as physics, optics, and engineering.