Question

The medium in which speed of light is less is called optically.....medium and the medium in which speed of light is more is called optically.......medium.
(A) denser, rarer
(B) rarer, denser
(C) denser, denser
(D) rarer, rarer

Answer 1

Hint: We will discuss the properties of the medium to know the speed of the light. As the property of a medium will help to know if the medium is suitable and efficient for the running of light through it. The more the properties of the medium are suitable for the travelling of light higher, the speed of light will be.

Complete step by step answer:
A medium is called an optically denser medium if the speed of light comes to be lesser than the normal speed. Here, the term optically denser will imply that the medium slows down the incident rays on it or we can say that it reduces the speed of a ray of light when it is passed through it. We can also say that the refractive index of an optically denser medium is less. As the refractive index will tell us how fats a light ray travel through a material.
A medium is called an optically rarer medium if the speed of light comes to be more than the normal speed. In this medium, the speed of the ray of light becomes higher when it is passed. We can also say that the refractive index of an optically rarer denser medium is greater than that of the optically denser medium.

So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note:
We should know that the speed of light waves is dependent upon the properties of the medium. The ray of light is subjected to bending in the case when it passes from an optically rarer medium to optically denser medium; the bending is towards the normal.