Which of the following substances has the highest refraction: an ice cube, oil, or a diamond ring? Why?

Question

Which of the following substances has the highest refraction: an ice cube, oil, or a diamond ring? Why?

Answer 1

As stated earlier the diamond ring does have the highest refraction, and it does have to due with the molecular structure.

Refractions is calculated by comparing the angle at which the light enters and object and the angle at which it travels through the object. This bending is due to a difference in optical density between the two materials.

Optical density is a material quality that corresponds to the speed of light through that material. As light light traveling through air enters the diamond it is forced to slow down, and as it does it bends, then it exits the diamond it speeds up again and bends back. This is the same principle that is used in lenses.

Diamond has one of the highest optical densities of any common substance, and this is why it sparkles the way that it does.    

Answer 2

I don't have a very good physics vocabulary, but I'm pretty sure I'm right, so you're going to have to bear with how stupid I sound.

The diamond has the highest refraction because the different layers of the crystal refract the light better than the other two substances.

Sry, that's my best. Good luck!