Refraction index

The refractive index of a material measures how much it bends or slows down light as it passes through. When light moves from one substance to another—like from air into glass—its speed changes, causing it to bend. A higher refractive index means more bending, indicating that light slows down more inside that material. This property helps us understand how lenses work, why objects appear distorted underwater, or how optical devices are designed for clarity and focus. Essentially, the refractive index describes how a material interacts with light, influencing how we see and manipulate images.