Concept:Refractive index compares the speed of light in air or vacuum with its speed in a given medium.
Explanation:The refractive index is given by
n=vc​, where
c is the speed of light in air or vacuum and
v is the speed of light in the medium.
For water,
n=1.33, so
vc​=1.33.
This means
c=1.33×v, i.e., light in air travels 1.33 times faster than light in water.
Water is optically denser than air, so light slows down when it enters water.
Option A is incorrect because light cannot travel faster in water than in air.
Option C is incorrect because light moves faster in air, not slower.
Option D is incorrect because the speed of light changes when it passes between media of different optical densities.
The refractive index is a dimensionless quantity, and the speed of light in vacuum is about
3×108 m/s.
Frequency of light remains constant during refraction, while speed and wavelength change.
Answer:Option B: The speed of light in air is 1.33 times the speed of light in water.