törésindex

Törésindex, also known as the refractive index, is a dimensionless number that describes how fast light travels through a material. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the material. The symbol for törésindex is typically 'n'. A higher törésindex indicates that light travels slower in the material, and vice versa. For example, air has a törésindex very close to 1, meaning light travels almost as fast in air as it does in a vacuum. Water has a törésindex of approximately 1.33, and glass typically has a törésindex between 1.5 and 1.7.

The törésindex of a material is also related to how light bends, or refracts, when it passes from one medium to another. This phenomenon is described by Snell's Law, which states that the sine of the angle of incidence multiplied by the refractive index of the first medium is equal to the sine of the angle of refraction multiplied by the refractive index of the second medium. The greater the difference in törésindex between two materials, the more light will bend at their interface. This property is fundamental to the design of lenses and prisms used in optical instruments.

The törésindex of a material can vary with the wavelength of light, a phenomenon known as dispersion. This is why a prism can separate white light into its constituent colors, as each color (wavelength) is refracted at a slightly different angle. Törésindex is an important characteristic used in various scientific and engineering fields, including optics, materials science, and chemistry.