Question

What is an optically denser medium?

Answer 1

Hint: Let us consider two mediums, say A and B. Medium B is said to be optically denser if the speed of light in B is less than that of medium A. This means that the refractive index of the medium B is greater than that of medium A.

Complete step by step solution Medium B is said to be optically rarer if the speed of light in medium A is less than that of medium B. This means the refractive index of A is greater than that of B.
If the light is travelling from optically denser to optically rarer medium light moves away from the normal and when light travels from optically rarer medium to optically denser medium it deviates towards the normal.
In simple words optically denser medium can be understood as the medium in which the speed of light is less.

Additional information:
Refractive index: It is defined as the ratio of light in vacuum to the velocity of light in a particular medium.
It is denoted by the symbol n
$n = \dfrac{c}{v}$
Where n is the refractive index
C is the velocity of light
V is the velocity of light in the particular medium.

Note:
Optical density is any property of any transparent material which can measure the velocity of the light through which it is passing.
The extent to which an optically denser medium deviates the transmitted light rays towards or away from it, this is defined as optical density.

Examples of optically denser medium are when we are comparing two medium air and water, air is the rare medium and water is the denser medium.

Examples of optically denser medium are when we are comparing two medium air and water, air is the rare medium and water is the denser medium.