hypark

i just did a post about the refractive indexes of oil, alcohol and water: oil----------------=1.47------------0.680272 (68.03%)----0.92 g/mL water-------------=1.32356--------0.755538 (75.55%)----1 g/mL alcohol(Isopropyl)--=1.3772---------0.726110 (72.61%)----0.785g/mL got them from the web so it should be pretty accurate, i check many web sites and they had the some info. Let me explain my table: (R.I. = refractive index) -oil has the highest refractive index from the three but the second highest density. -water has the least refractive index but has the greatest density. -alcohol has a refractive index close to water(only0.05 difference) but still alcohol refracts more light(more R.I). it has the least density. -The more slowed down the speed of light, the more light bends away from its original path. -should I base the substances' ability to refract light with the RI or the density? im sure the RI but does density have any connection with a liquid's RI? *So if you are gonna arrange the 3 liquids by their ability to refract light from the most to the least how would it be and why?

So I am doing a research paper but im not sure if density affects the bending of light. I have once read a short experiment on the net explaining that density does not affect how much light would bend. http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2007/Projects/J1605.pdf Well, im doing an experiment on the refraction of light and it seems that density doesnt affect the refractive index of the substance. This is the information i got from the web. (i computed for the change in the speed of light by using 1/(refractive index) = change in the speed of light. 68.03% means the speed is 68.03% of the normal speed of light. --------------refractive index-------change in speed--------density oil----------------=1.47------------0.680272 (68.03%)----0.92 g/mL water-------------=1.32356--------0.755538 (75.55%)----1 g/mL alcohol(Isopropyl)--=1.3772---------0.726110 (72.61%)----0.785g/mL As you can see in my little research, density really doesnt affect refractive index. Now in my real experiment, I found out that oil refracts the most light, next to alcohol then water. if you base it on the research it fits. The more refractive index, the mor elight bends, but density didnt affect the refraction). But my experiment might have been wrong, so i am not 100% sure of this refractive index being changed by density. Hope there are experts on this subject who can replay back soon:-) thank you,