Question

(a) The refractive index of diamond is 2.42. What is the meaning of this statement in relation to speed of light?
(b) Describe an activity to draw a magnetic field line outside a bar magnet from one pole to another pole.

Answer 1

(a) Refractive index of a medium is the measure of the speed of light in that, medium with respect to the vacuum. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of the light in a vacuum to the speed of the light in the given medium. So, the term "The refractive index of diamond is 2.42" means that the speed of light in diamond is $\frac{1}{2.42}$ times the speed of the light in vacuum.

(b) We can put a magnetic compass nearby a bar magnet. The needle of the compass will show deflection in the direction of magnetic field lines. If we move the compass around the magnet, we can get the exact path of magnetic field lines around the bar magnet.