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Examples of index of refraction in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Light travels through water at three-quarters its speed in a vacuum, making water’s index of refraction 1.33.
—Bysara Reardon, science.org, 5 Sep. 2024
The higher the index of refraction, the slower light travels in that medium.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Aug. 2024
Similarly, a time mirror is formed by an abrupt change in the index of refraction—but in time.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Aug. 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
1829, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of index of refraction was
in 1829
Dictionary Entries Near index of refraction
Cite this Entry
“Index of refraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/index%20of%20refraction. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
index of refraction
nounMedical Definition
index of refraction
noun
: the ratio of the speed of radiation (as light) in one medium (as a vacuum) to that in another medium
called also refractive index
More from Merriam-Webster on index of refraction
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about index of refraction
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