Home Physics Ray Optics Refractive Index If ε 0 and μ 0 are respectively the electric…
Physics Ray Optics Refractive Index Subjective Type
Published on: September 13, 2026

If ε 0 and μ 0 are respectively the electric permittivity and magnetic permeability of free space, ε and μ the corresponding quantities in a medium, the index of refraction of the medium in terms of the above parameters is ........

Share this question

For Instagram sharing, use “Apps” on mobile or copy the link.

Text Solution

Verified by Experts
The correct answer is:
B
To find the index of refraction of a medium in terms of the electric permittivity (ε) and magnetic permeability (μ), we can use the relationship defined in optics. The index of refraction n is given by:

$$ n = rac{c}{v} $$
where:
- $c$ is the speed of light in a vacuum, and
- $v$ is the speed of light in the medium.

The speed of light in a vacuum is given by:

$$ c = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\epsilon_0 \mu_0}} $$
and the speed of light in the medium is given by:

$$ v = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\epsilon \mu}} $$

Substituting these into the equation for n gives us:

$$ n = \frac{c}{v} = \frac{\frac{1}{\sqrt{\epsilon_0 \mu_0}}}{\frac{1}{\sqrt{\epsilon \mu}}} = \sqrt{\frac{\epsilon \mu}{\epsilon_0 \mu_0}} $$
Therefore, the correct expression for the index of refraction of the medium in terms of the permittivity and permeability of free space is:

$$ n = \sqrt{\frac{\epsilon}{\epsilon_0} \cdot \frac{\mu}{\mu_0}} $$
Hence, the answer is option B.

Prepare Smarter with CGP Edu

Get practice questions, solutions, and test series in one place.

Write a Review

Share your experience with this question and solution.

Commentary

Send your comment, doubt, correction, or feedback to admin.

Student Reviews

What students say about this solution

No reviews yet. Be the first to write a review.

Similar Questions

Explore conceptually related problems

CG
CGP Question Assistant Question Bank + AI Help
Hi! Type your question or upload one screenshot. First I will search related questions from CGP Edu Question Bank. If none match, type YES and I will solve it with AI.
Upload only one screenshot at a time. Flow: Question Bank first → If not matched, type YES for AI solution.