A ray of light travels from air to water to glass and again from glass to air. Refractive index of water with respect to air is \( x \), glass with respect to water is \( y \) and air with respect to glass is \( z \). Which one of the following is correct?
Show Hint
Product of refractive indices around a closed path is always equal to 1.
Step 1: Use definition of refractive index.
Refractive index of medium A with respect to medium B is given by
\[
n_{AB} = \frac{n_A}{n_B}
\] Step 2: Write given refractive indices.
\[
x = \frac{n_w}{n_a}, \quad y = \frac{n_g}{n_w}, \quad z = \frac{n_a}{n_g}
\] Step 3: Multiply all three.
\[
xyz = \frac{n_w}{n_a} \cdot \frac{n_g}{n_w} \cdot \frac{n_a}{n_g} = 1
\] Step 4: Conclusion.
The correct relation is \( xyz = 1 \).