Refractive Index of Water

The refractive index of water measures how much light slows down and bends when passing through it compared to air. For water, this value is about 1.33, meaning light travels 1.33 times slower in water than in a vacuum, and it bends slightly as it enters. This property explains phenomena like why objects under water appear bent or closer than they really are. The refractive index depends on the wavelength of light and plays a key role in optics, imaging, and various scientific measurements involving light passing through water.