Question

You are given water, mustard oil, glycerin and kerosene. In which of these media a ray of light incident obliquely at same angle would bend the most?

• A. kerosene
• B. water
• C. mustard oil
• D. glycerin

Answer 1

The correct option is D

glycerin

The explanation for the correct option

(d) glycerin

• Refraction of light is a bending of a light ray as it passes from one medium to another.
• Refractive index is a ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in that particular medium.
• As the value of the refractive index of a medium increases, the speed of light decreases in that medium.
• Refractive indices of water, mustard oil, glycerin, and kerosene are$1.33$, $1.46$, $1.47$, and $1.44$ respectively.
• As the refractive index of the glycerin is highest among other media, the ray of light will bend more in glycerin.

The explanation for the incorrect option

(a) kerosene

As the refractive index of the glycerin is greater than kerosene, the bending of the light ray will be more in glycerin as compared to the kerosene.

(b) water

As the refractive index of the glycerin is greater than water, the bending of the light ray will be more in glycerin as compared to the water.

(c) mustard oil

As the refractive index of the glycerin is greater than mustard oil, the bending of the light ray will be more in glycerin as compared to the mustard oil.