Refraction Index: Does Temperature Change It?

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The refractive index of water and other materials changes with temperature, affecting how light travels through them. Light travels at speed "c" in a vacuum, but its speed decreases in materials due to absorption and re-emission processes. Temperature variations can create visible effects, such as heat waves near buildings, due to changes in the refractive index. Additionally, factors like stress and electric fields can also influence the refractive index. Overall, temperature significantly impacts the behavior of light in various materials.
darkar
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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.
 
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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 traveling through matter, it will be absorbed and re-emitted many times. Each absorption and re-emission takes a small amount of time.

Njorl
 
the dude is right!
 
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.
 
By heating/cooling a material the density will change. Which will inturn change the index of refraction.
 

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