Refraction index

[darkar]

Hello,
will refreactoin index of water or any material will change its refreaction index when temperature changes? What make the speed of light slower in air compare to vacum.

[Njorl]

Refractive index changes with temperature for most materials. It can also be changed by stress and electric fields.

Light always travels at "c", but when travelling through matter, it will be absorbed and re-emitted many times. Each absorption and re-emission takes a small amount of time.

Njorl

[Nenad]

the dude is right!

[JohnDubYa]

You can see the temperature effect by looking at the edge of a bulding. The "heat waves" you see are caused by the index of refraction changing from the heat escaping the building.

[Parth Dave]

By heating/cooling a material the density will change. Which will inturn change the index of refraction.