RAY OPTICS
23/04/25
SPHERICAL LENSES
TERMS IN SPHERICAL LENSES:
NOTE:
• The focal length of a lens refers to its second focal length.
• The focal length of a convex lens – positive
• The focal length of a concave lens – negative
• If the medium on both sides of a lens is same, the numerical
values of the first and the second focal lengths are equal.
REFRACTION AT A SPHERICAL SURFACE
• The rays are incident from a medium of refractive
index n₁ and refracted to another medium of
refractive index n₂.
• Assuming the aperture (or the lateral size) of the
surface to be small compared to other distances
involved, so that small angle approximation can
be made.
• Consider NM will be taken to be nearly equal to
the length of the perpendicular from the point N
on the principal axis.
• Considering small angles,
𝑀𝑁
tan 𝛼 ≈ 𝛼 = --------------- (1)
𝑂𝑀
𝑀𝑁
tan 𝛽 ≈ 𝛽 = -------------- (2)
𝑀𝐶
𝑀𝑁
tan 𝛾 ≈ 𝛾 = -------------- (3)
𝑀𝐼
Now, for ΔNOC, i is the exterior angle.
Therefore i= 𝛼 + 𝛽
𝑀𝑁 𝑀𝑁
i= + -------- (4)
𝑂𝑀 𝑀𝐶
Similarly for ∆𝑁𝐼𝐶, 𝛽 is the exterior angle.
• Therefore 𝛽 =𝑟+𝛾
Or r = 𝛽- 𝛾
𝑀𝑁 𝑀𝑁
r= - ------------ (5)
𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐼
sin 𝑖 𝑛2
Now, by Snell’s law =
sin 𝑟 𝑛1
For small angles sin i =i and sin r =r
𝑖 𝑛2
therefore =
𝑟 𝑛1
That is 𝑛1 𝑖 = 𝑛2 𝑟 ------------ (6)
Substituting eqn (4) & (5) in eqn (6), we get
𝑀𝑁 𝑀𝑁 𝑀𝑁 𝑀𝑁
𝑛1 [ + ] = 𝑛2 [ - ]
𝑂𝑀 𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐼
1 1 1 1
• 𝑛1 MN[ + ] = 𝑛2 MN[
𝑂𝑀 𝑀𝐶
-
𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐼
]
𝑛1 𝑛1 𝑛2 𝑛2 𝑛1 𝑛2 𝑛2 𝑛1
+ = − → + = − --------- (7)
𝑂𝑀 𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐼 𝑂𝑀 𝑀𝐼 𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐶
Applying the Cartesian sign convention, OM = –u, MI = +v, MC = +R
Substituting these in Eq. (7), we get,
𝒏𝟐 𝒏𝟏 (𝒏𝟐 −𝒏𝟏 )
- =
𝒗 𝒖 𝑹
Lens maker’s formula
• Figure (a) shows the geometry of image formation
by a double convex lens. The image formation can
be seen in terms of two steps:
i. The first refracting surface forms the image I1 of
the object O
ii. The image I1acts as a virtual object for the second
surface that forms the image at I
𝑛2 𝑛1 (𝑛2 −𝑛1 )
Applying - = to the first
𝑣 𝑢 𝑅
interface ABC with sign convention, i.e, v=𝑣1 ,u=-u
& R=𝑅1 , we get
𝑛2 𝑛1 (𝑛2 −𝑛1 )
+ = ---------------- (1)
𝑣1 𝑢 𝑅1
A similar procedure applied to the second interface ADC with sign convention, i.e, v=v,
u= 𝑣1 & R=−𝑅2 gives,
𝑛1 𝑛2 (𝑛1 −𝑛2 ) 𝑛1 𝑛2 (𝑛2 −𝑛1 )
- = →
𝑣 − 𝑣1 = 𝑅2 -------------- (2)
𝑣 𝑣1 −𝑅2
Adding eqn (1) & eqn (2) , we get
𝑛1 𝑛1 1 1
+ = (𝑛2 − 𝑛1 )[ + ]
𝑣 𝑢 𝑅1 𝑅2
The point where image of an object placed at infinity is formed is called the focus F, of
the lens and the distance f gives its focal length. A lens has two foci, F and F′, on either
side of it . By the sign convention, v=+v, u=-u , 𝑅1 = 𝑅1 & 𝑅2 = −𝑅2 .So the above
equation can be written as
1 1 𝑛2 −𝑛1 1 1
− = [ ][ − ] ----------------- (3)
𝑣 𝑢 𝑛1 𝑅1 𝑅2
Suppose the object is at infinity, i.e., OB → ∞ and DI = f, therefore the above
equation becomes
1 𝑛2 −𝑛1 1 1
= [ ][ − ] ----- (4)
𝑓 𝑛1 𝑅1 𝑅2
this is lens maker’s formula
From eqn (3) and eqn (4)
1 1 1
− =
𝑣 𝑢 𝑓
This is the thin lens formula
This formula is true for a concave lens also. In that case R1 is negative,
R2 positive and therefore, f is negative.
APPLICATION OF TIR
• 1. Totally reflecting prism:
A right angled isosceles prism, i.e, 45° − 90° − 45°prism is called a total
reflecting prism. In such a prism, the light incident normally on any of its faces
[critical angle about 42°] suffers total internal reflection inside the prism.
Due to this property, a total reflecting prism is used for the following three
purposes —
a. To deviate a ray of light through 90°. [ used in periscope]
b. To deviate a ray of light through 180°.[ it is also called porroprism]
c. To erect the inverted image without producing deviation in its path.[ it is
also called erecting prism and is used in binoculars ]
2. OPTICAL FIBRES:
