Refractive Index common Liquids, Solids and Gases

Refraction is an effect that occurs between transparent materials of different densities.

The Refractive Index  - n - of a medium is a measure for how much the velocity of light is reduced inside the medium. The velocity of light in a medium can be expressed as

v  = c / n                                          (1)

where

v = velocity of light in the medium (m/s, ft/s)

c = speed of light in air or vacuum - approximately 3 10⁸ m/s (or 299792458 m/s)

n = refractive index

The index of refraction is defined as

• "the speed of light in vacuum divided by the speed of light in the medium".

Eq. 1 modified

n  = c / v                                          (2)

Index of Refraction for Vacuum

• n = 1.00

Refractive Indices for some common Gases

Index of Refraction for common Liquids

Example - Speed of Light in Air

The speed of light in air can be calculated as

v  = (299792458 m/s) / 1.000293

    = 299704645 m/s

Example - Speed of Light in Water

The approximate speed of light in water can be calculated as

v  = (3 10⁸ m/s) / 1.33

    = 2.26 10⁸ m/s

Index of Refraction for some common Solids

Example - Speed of Light in Glass

The approximate speed of light in glass can be calculated as

v  = (3 10⁸ m/s) / 1.6

    = 1.88 10⁸ m/s

Index of Refraction for some selected Polymers

Temperature ^oC
K
^oF

Length m
km
in
ft
yards
miles
naut miles

Area m²
km²
in²
ft²
miles²
acres

Volume m³
liters
in³
ft³
us gal

Weight kg_f
N
lbf

Velocity m/s
km/h
ft/min
ft/s
mph
knots

Pressure Pa
bar
mm H₂O
kg/cm²
psi
inches H₂O

Flow m³/s
m³/h
US gpm
cfm