Question

Which medium (the glass, water or diamond), is the most dense and how do you know?

Answer 1

Hi jacquelyne :)

How are you dear?

Welcome to Openstudy :D

Answer 2

The more the refractive index (\( \eta\)) the more the medium density.

\(\eta\text{ of water }\)=1.33
\(\eta\text{ of glass }\)=1.6 approx
\(\eta\text{ of diamond }\)=2.419 approx 2.42

So ofcourse then Diamond is the most dense.

Answer 3

There is a more direct way of determining that. Density is defined as mass/volume, so all you have to do is take a known volume of those materials and weigh them.

Answer 4

I wouldn't go by the refractive index because it's based on the propagation of light....and materials which are not dense can still have a high refractive index.

Use the density formula:\[density=\frac{mass}{volume}\]
Common density values for diamond, water and glass are:
\[d_{diamond}=\frac{3250kg}{m^3}\]\[d_{water}=\frac{1000kg}{m^3}\]\[d_{glass}=\frac{2600kg}{m^3}\]