American Board of Opticianry (ABO) Practice Test

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What defines the refractive index of a material?

  1. the speed of light in air divided by the speed of light in the material

  2. the single point on an optical lens through which light may pass

  3. the total power of the lens

  4. a biconvex lens

The correct answer is: the speed of light in air divided by the speed of light in the material

The refractive index of a material is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in that material. This is why option A is the correct answer. Option B refers to the specific point on a lens where light passes, but this is not related to the refractive index. Option C refers to the power of a lens, but this is not the same as the refractive index. Option D refers to the shape of a lens, but again, this is not the same as the refractive index. It is important to understand the definition of refractive index in order to select the correct answer.