- #1
resurgance2001
- 197
- 9
Hi
Some of my students are doing an experiment, investigating the refractive index of different liquids such as water, alcohol, syrup (very concentrated sugar solution!), and oil.
The results that of their experiments seem to be showing that oil has a high refractive index than water and the sugar solution a lower refractive index. We thought at first that the refractive index would be linked to the density of the material. However, with these two liquids seems to be going in the opposite direction, as in, the liquid with the lower density actually has a higher refractive index.
Can anyone offer some alternative explanation(s) about how different materials affect the speed of light and hence refractive index.
Thanks
Peter
Some of my students are doing an experiment, investigating the refractive index of different liquids such as water, alcohol, syrup (very concentrated sugar solution!), and oil.
The results that of their experiments seem to be showing that oil has a high refractive index than water and the sugar solution a lower refractive index. We thought at first that the refractive index would be linked to the density of the material. However, with these two liquids seems to be going in the opposite direction, as in, the liquid with the lower density actually has a higher refractive index.
Can anyone offer some alternative explanation(s) about how different materials affect the speed of light and hence refractive index.
Thanks
Peter