Understanding Refractive Index Measurement in Interference Patterns

AI Thread Summary
Refractive index can be measured by observing the change in the angular range of the first dark bands in a single slit diffraction pattern when transitioning from air to water. The key factor is that the wavelength of light changes in different media, specifically, it becomes λ' = λ/n, where λ is the wavelength in a vacuum and n is the refractive index. Understanding this relationship is crucial for accurately determining the refractive index through interference patterns. The discussion emphasizes the importance of wavelength over frequency in this context. Overall, measuring refractive index involves analyzing how light behaves differently in various media.
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How can one measure refractive index by knowing the change in angular range of the first dark bands of an interference pattern(single slit diffraction), when the apparatus is change from air to under water?

I think I missed that lecture, and I am still catching up.
 
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You need to know that it's the wavelength, not the frequency, that changes when the refractive index changes. If light has wavelength \lambda in vacuum, then it has wavelength \lambda^{\prime}=\lambda/n in a medium of refractive index n.
 
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