The amount of refraction depends on the difference in density between two mediums.
So, the amount of refraction a material has, or it's refraction index, is the amount light will bend as it goes from medium into another medium.
For instance, Vacuum is considered to have a refraction index of 1 and all other materials being denser than vacuum will naturally have a larger refraction index, they bend light more.
So, it simply means that- since the object has a high density it will slow down light by a greater amount.
Refractive index of vacuum is 1.
Refractive Index: 1.4465
"The refractive index of water is 4 / 3" means the refractive index of water with respect to air. "The refractive index of glass is 3 /2" means the refractive index of glass with respect to air. You change the question as ," what is the refractive index of glass with respect to water? The answer is it is the ratio of refractive index of of glass with respect to air to the refractive index of water with respect to air =( 3/2) divided by( 4/3) = 1.125
What is a prism and how does it relate to the refractive index? Explain how the refractive index of a prism affects the bending of light. How can you experimentally determine the refractive index of a prism?
The absolute refractive index of kerosene is 1.39 .
The refractive index is determined experimentally.
The refractive index of diamonds is approximately 2.42. This high refractive index contributes to the diamond's brilliance and sparkle when light enters and exits the stone.
Generally, denser mediums have higher refractive index. For example, water has a higher refractive index compared to air. Similarly, glass has a higher refractive index than water.
To find the refractive index of groundnut oil, you can use a refractometer designed for measuring the refractive index of liquids. Place a drop of groundnut oil on the refractometer's prism and then measure the refractive index value displayed on the scale. This will give you the refractive index of groundnut oil.
Refractive Index(i) Refractive index of a medium is that characteristic which decides speed of light in it.(ii) It is a scalar, unit less and dimensionless quantity.(iii) Absolute refractive index :When light travels from vacuum to any transparent medium then refractive index of medium w.r.t. vacuum is called it's absolute refractive index i.e. vacuumµmedium = c/vAbsolute refractive indices for glass, water and diamond are respectively µg = 3/2 = 1.5, µw = 4/3 = 1.33 and µD = 12/5 = 2.4(iv) Relative refractive index :When light travels from medium (1) to medium (2) then refractive index of medium (2) w.r.t. medium (1) is called it's relative refractive index i.e. 1µ2 = µ2/µ1 = v1/v2 (where v1 and v2 are the speed of light in medium 1 and 2 respectively).(v) When we say refractive index we mean absolute refractive index.(vi) The minimum value of absolute refractive index is 1. For air it is very near to 1. ( 1.003)
It is usually expressed the other way: the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a medium. In that case, it is called the "index of refraction".
I assume "molecular refractive index" refers to "the refractive index of a group of molecules". In this case, you just use the units for a refractive index - i.e., a dimensionless number.