Explain what the value of the index of refraction of a medium means.

Question

Explain what the value of the index of refraction of a medium means.

Answer 1

Something like this

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/Ph...

or this

http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/li...

I'm sure Sheldon would explain it far better.

Answer 2

The refractive index (or index of refraction) of a medium is a measure for how much the speed of light (or other waves such as sound waves) is reduced inside the medium.