Understanding Refractive Index
The refractive index (n) of a material is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum (c) to the speed of light in that material (v):
n = c / v
Calculation
1. Speed of light in a vacuum: c = 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s)
2. Refractive index of alcohol: n = 1.36
Solving for the speed of light in alcohol (v):
v = c / n
v = 299,792,458 m/s / 1.36
v ≈ 220,435,634 m/s
Therefore, the velocity of light in alcohol with a refractive index of 1.36 is approximately 220,435,634 meters per second.
