Calculator Online

Home AI Chat AI Math Solver

NEW

Tools ▾ Category ▾

Pricing Sign In

Calculator Online

Your Result is copied!

Index of Refraction Calculator

Enter the refractive indices of various mediums, and the tool will calculate the absolute and relative refractive index

Mode:

Medium 1:

Dimond (v)

m/s ▾

Related

The index of refraction calculator helps determine the absolute and relative refractive index of any medium. Knowing the refractive index is essential to find the wavelength of light in that medium.

What Is a Refractive Index?

The refractive index describes how light travels through a medium such as air, water, or glass. It is a dimensionless number that indicates how much the speed and wavelength of light change when passing from one medium to another. You can calculate it easily using a refractive index calculator.

Index of Refraction Formula:

The refractive index can be calculated as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to its speed in the medium:

n = c / v

Where:

n = Refractive index
c = Speed of light in vacuum (299,792.46 km/s)
v = Speed of light in the medium

The refractive index is always greater than or equal to 1, as light cannot travel faster than in a vacuum. The calculator can provide both absolute and relative refractive index values.

How to Find the Index of Refraction?

For example, find the refractive index of water at 20°C, where light travels at 224,900.6 km/s:

Solution:

Using the formula:

n = c / v

Speed of light in vacuum, c = 299,792.46 km/s
Speed of light in water, v = 224,900.6 km/s

Substitute the values:

n = 299,792.46 / 224,900.6

n ≈ 1.333

You can use a refractive index calculator to quickly find the absolute or relative refractive index of any medium.

Chart of Refractive Index:

Refractive indices of common mediums:

Medium	Refractive index
Vacuum	1 (by definition)
Air	1.000293
Water at 20 °C	1.333
Ethanol	1.36
Ice	1.31
Diamond	2.419

How the Refractive Index Calculator Works:

The calculator can be used to find the refractive index of different mediums.

Input:

Select absolute or relative refractive index
Choose the medium
Enter the speed of light in the medium
Click calculate

Output:

The refractive index of the medium

FAQs:

What is the Difference Between Absolute and Relative Refractive Index?

The absolute refractive index measures light refraction in a single medium, while the relative refractive index compares refraction between two media, such as air and water. The calculator can compute both types.

What Does the Refractive Index Measure?

It measures how much a light ray bends when it passes from one medium to another due to a change in light’s wavelength.

What is the Refractive Index of Glass?

Glass typically has a refractive index of about 1.52. Using a refractive index calculator, you can find the wavelength of light and the angle of refraction in glass.

References:

From Wikipedia: Refractive Index, formulas and explanation. From SPIE.org: Refractive Index Formula, calculation methods.

Related

Calculator Online

Get the ease of calculating anything from the source of calculator online

Links

Home Conversion Calculator About Calculator Online Blog Hire Us Knowledge Base Sitemap Sitemap Two

Support

Email us at