Calculating light Speed
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 2:14 pm
I am calculating the light speed through different densities of jello using a laser. I found out much information about Snell's Law and the Index of Refraction. I know that I will need to measure the angle of refraction of the beam once it enters the jello in comparison to the normal. I'm sure there is a way I can enter that measurement into the formula in the place of θ1, but I wasn't sure what I would replace the other variables with or what additional measurements I need to take to figure out how fast the laser is going through the different densities of jello. My final measurements should be the speed of light through the different densities of jello, but how do I get light speed out of these two formulas?
Snell's Law: n1sinθ1= n2sinθ2 (the 1 and 2 after n and θ are subscripts)
n1= the index of refraction of the meium in which the incident ray travels
θ1= the angle
Index of Refraction: n=c/v
n= the index of refraction
v= the velocity of light in the medium
c= the velocity of light in a vacuum
Snell's Law: n1sinθ1= n2sinθ2 (the 1 and 2 after n and θ are subscripts)
n1= the index of refraction of the meium in which the incident ray travels
θ1= the angle
Index of Refraction: n=c/v
n= the index of refraction
v= the velocity of light in the medium
c= the velocity of light in a vacuum