Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

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What is the speed of light in a medium with a refractive index of 2.0?

  1. 3 x 10^10 cm/sec

  2. 1.5 x 10^10 cm/sec

  3. 6 x 10^10 cm/sec

  4. 2.5 x 10^10 cm/sec

The correct answer is: 1.5 x 10^10 cm/sec

The speed of light in a medium can be determined using the formula: Speed of light in a medium = Speed of light in vacuum / Refractive index. The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 3 x 10^10 cm/sec. Given that the refractive index of the medium is 2.0, the calculation would be as follows: Speed of light in the medium = (3 x 10^10 cm/sec) / 2 = 1.5 x 10^10 cm/sec. Thus, the correct answer represents the speed of light in a medium with a refractive index of 2.0, confirming that light travels slower in denser media. This principle is fundamental in understanding optical phenomena, including lens design and refraction.