Question

Which of the following media has the highest and the least optical densities? Explain.

Media: glass, oil, diamond, air and water.

Answer 1

Highest Optical Density: Diamond

Least Optical Density: Air

Explanation:

Optical density is directly related to the refractive index of a medium. A higher refractive index means higher optical density, causing light to travel slower through it.

• Diamond has the highest refractive index (2.42) among all given choices, making it the most optically dense medium.
• Air has the lowest refractive index (1.00), making it the least optically dense medium.