<u>Answer:</u>
Refractive index of the liquid = 1.3
<u>Explanation:</u>
The refractive index (n) also called the index of refraction is the ratio of the velocity/speed of light in free space (air or vacuum) to the velocity/speed of the light as it passes through another medium (say liquid).
The refractive index (n) has no unit and is given by;
n = -------------------------- (i)
Where, as stated in the question;
is the velocity/speed of the light in vacuum and
is the velocity/speed of the light in liquid
= distance traveled by light in vacuum / time taken in the vacuum
= distance traveled by the light in the liquid / time taken in the liquid.
Since the times taken are the same in both the vacuum and the liquid, let the times taken be t.
=> = distance traveled in vacuum / t = 4.55/t
=> = distance traveled in liquid / t = 3.50/t
Substituting for the values of and in equation (i), we have;
=> n =
=> n = ÷
=> n = x
=> n = 1.3
The refractive index of the liquid is 1.3