[bubblyporcupine]

Alright I got this question wrong and I'm curious as to the reason why.

The refractive index of a liquid is (significantly) dependent on which experimental variables?

 Dependent on temperature
 Dependent on pressure
 Not dependent on volume
 Dependent on wavelength

I know temperature and pressure are for sure factors, I don't think volume matters all that much and doesn't the angle change with a different wavelength so that's important too.

Can you guys point out why this is wrong?
thanks  

[newmiasis]

well I'm not exactly sure how accurate this is, but if you do a take a refractive index and don't put enough liquid in, you will get poor results; I have seen other students in my class suffer from this. I'm not sure what the effect of adding too much liquid would be. I think it would be safe to say that there's an optimum volume of liquid, which is why you have probably been told to use x drops of unknown, etc.

[GCT]

Alright I got this question wrong and I'm curious as to the reason why.

The refractive index of a liquid is (significantly) dependent on which experimental variables?

 Dependent on temperature
 Dependent on pressure
 Not dependent on volume
 Dependent on wavelength

I know temperature and pressure are for sure factors, I don't think volume matters all that much and doesn't the angle change with a different wavelength so that's important too.

Can you guys point out why this is wrong?
thanks  

it's dependent on temperature, shoot a laser in a sample medium and you'll have a density gradient....diverging lens.  Wavelength factor refers to normal dispersion phoenomena (yes it's dependent).  Not dependent on volume, rather density.  I don't think that pressure has a significant effect on the density of a liquid...not sure about this one.