Exam-style question
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Explain how the refractive index of a medium affects the speed of light as it passes through that medium.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The refractive index of a medium is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in that medium.
- A higher refractive index indicates that light travels slower in that medium compared to a medium with a lower refractive index.
Explanation
Why this works
This question assesses understanding of the relationship between refractive index and light speed. It requires knowledge of how light behaves when transitioning between different media.
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