Question

How is refractive index related to the angle of bending of light?

Answer 1

Hint : Refractive index is a measure of how often a light ray bends when it passes through different mediums. It's also known as $n = \dfrac{c}{v}$, which is the ratio of the velocity of a light ray in empty space to the velocity of light in a material.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
We can use Snell’s law to show the relation between refractive index and the angle of bending of light.
As light or other waves pass through a boundary between two different isotropic media, such as water, glass, or air, Snell's law is a formula used to describe the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction.
Consider a ray of light strikes at an air-object interface, the object has a refractive index $\mu > 1$, so if $\theta$is the angle of incidence and $\phi$ is the angle of refraction, then by using Snell’s Law, we get,
$\sin \theta = \mu \sin \phi$
or,
$\sin \phi = \dfrac{1}{\mu }\sin \theta$
$\mu$ is the refractive index
$\sin \phi$ is a constant since it is the angle of incidence.
$\sin \theta$ is inversely proportional to $\mu$. Greater is the value of $\mu$, lesser is the value of $\sin \theta$ and lesser is the value of $\mu$, greater is the value of $\sin \theta$.
If the ray of light passes from light medium to a denser medium, it moves towards the normal. If the ray of light passes from a denser medium to a lighter medium, it moves away from the normal.

Note :
There are variations in the climate in the atmosphere. Some parts of the atmosphere are thicker, while others are thinner. At night, the lights seem to twinkle. The twinkling is caused by light refracting as it moves through the different layers of the atmosphere.