physics question

Question

What makes diamonds and their cut special in the way that they shine and sparkle?

How is light affected as it moves from air through the diamond and back out into the

air? If someone submerges their diamond ring in water, will it sparkle more or less

or the same, and why?

Answer 1

Basically, diamonds are shiny because of their high index of refraction. The index of refraction is a measure of how much light is bent, or refracted, as it passes through a material. Diamonds have a very high index of refraction, which means that light is refracted, or bent, significantly as it passes through the diamond. This, (because of total internal reflection) causes the light to be reflected many times as it travels through the diamond, which results in the diamond appearing shiny or sparkly.

The high index of refraction is due to the unique crystal structure of diamonds. Diamonds are made up of carbon atoms that are arranged in a lattice structure. The lattice structure of diamonds is very dense and tightly packed, which allows them to refract light very efficiently. In addition, the surface of a diamond is usually very smooth, which helps to further reflect light and contributes to its shiny appearance.