Who first stated the principle of refraction that postulates that every substance has a specific bending ratio – ‘refractive index’?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3 i.e. Willebrord Snellius.
Willebrord Snellius (1580–1626), a Dutch mathematician, first formulated the law of refraction in 1621, which is also known as Snell's Law. This law describes how light changes direction when it passes from one medium to another.
The refractive index is the bending ratio of light as it moves between different substances, and Snellius was the first to quantify this relationship.
Why not the other options?
- Dennis Gabor – Known for inventing holography and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics (1971), but not related to the law of refraction.
- Thomas Young – Famous for the double-slit experiment proving the wave nature of light, but did not state the law of refraction.
- David Brewster – Known for Brewster's Law, which explains polarization of light at a specific angle, but not for defining the refractive index.