'Relative refractive index' definitions:
Definition of 'Relative refractive index'
From: GCIDE
- Refractive \Re*fract"ive\ (r?*fr?kt"?v), a. [Cf. F. r['e]fractif. See Refract.] Serving or having power to refract, or turn from a direct course; pertaining to refraction; as, refractive surfaces; refractive powers. [1913 Webster]
- Refractive index. (Opt.) See Index of refraction, under Index.
- Absolute refractive index (Opt.), the index of refraction of a substances when the ray passes into it from a vacuum.
- Relative refractive index (of two media) (Opt.), the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction for a ray passing out of one of the media into the other. [1913 Webster]