'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]