Question

The speed of light in ice is 2.3 X 10^8 m/s. What is the
refractive index of ice?

Answer 1

By the definition of the refractive index we have:

$$n=\dfrac{c}{v},$$

here, $n$ is the refractive index of ice, $c=3\cdot 10^8\ \dfrac{m}{s}$ is the speed of light in a vacuum, $v=2.3\cdot 10^8\ \dfrac{m}{s}$ is the speed of light in ice.

Then, we get:

$$n=\dfrac{c}{v}=\dfrac{3\cdot 10^8\ \dfrac{m}{s}}{2.3\cdot 10^8\ \dfrac{m}{s}}=1.304$$

Answer:

$n=1.304$