The refractive index of glass with respect to air is 3/2 and refractive index of water with respect to air is 4/3 .

Question

The refractive index of glass with respect to air is \(\frac32\) and refractive index of water with respect to air is \(\frac43\). What will be the refractive index of water with respect to glass?

Answer 1

Refractive index of air, μair = 1; 

Given; 

Refractive index of water w.r.t air, aμw = \(\frac43\)

Refractive index of glass w.r.t air, aμg = \(\frac32\)

Refractive index of water w.r.t glass = gμw = \(\frac{^aμ_w}{^aμ_g}\,=\,\frac{\frac43}{\frac32}\)

⇒ gμw = \(\frac{4\times2}{3\times3}\,=\,\frac89\)

∴ Refractive index of water w.r.t glass is = \(\frac89\)