The speed of light is 3.00 × 108 m/s in the vacuum of space. in a medium with what index of refraction would light travel slowest? n = 1.00 n = 1.20 n = 1.50 n = 1.62

Index of refraction can be calculated using the following formula:

where in a vacuum and "n" is the index of refraction.  So we must calculate our velocity by manipulating the index of refraction formula and isolate v and so:

We could go one by one and calculate the velocity or use logic.  If you divide by a larger number the output will be a smaller number.  Therefore, the answer would be n=1.62 is the slowest.

By that logic when n=1 light would travel the fastest of these four scenarios.  The key thing to understand about these problems is that the speed of light slows down as it goes through a medium, in a vacuum it's 3 x 10^ 8 m/s but as it goes through say air or water light slows down.

305.7

explanation:

density =m/v

density =917/3.00

density = 305.

approximately = 305.7

in four significant figures