A light ray enters a glass slab of refractive index \( \mu = 1.5 \) from air. What is the speed of light inside the glass slab? (Speed of light in air \( c = 3 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s} \))
Show Hint
A higher refractive index means light travels slower in that medium compared to vacuum.
Concept:
The refractive index ($\mu$) of a medium is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum ($c$) to the speed of light in that medium ($v$):
\[ \mu = \frac{c}{v} \]
Step 1: Rearrange the formula to solve for velocity.
Given $\mu = 1.5$ and $c = 3 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s}$:
\[ v = \frac{c}{\mu} \]
Step 2: Substitute the values.
\[ v = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{1.5} \]
Step 3: Calculate the result.
\[ v = 2 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s} \]