Refraction of light

• Laws of refraction
• First Law:( Snell’s Law)
• The ratio of sin of incidence
angle to the refracting angle for 1
a pair of medium is always
constant.
2
• Sin i/sin r = Constant( 1µ2)
• 1µ2 is called refractive index
of medium 2 w.r.t. medium 1
Second law: The incident ray, refracted ray
and normal all lies in the same plane.
• Refractive Index:
• The ratio of speed of light in medium 1 to the
speed of light in medium 2
• 1µ2 = v1/v2
• If medium 1 is air then v1 = c and v2 = v
• 1µ2 = c/v
Q-For same angle of incidence, the angle of refraction
in three different media A,B and C are 150,250and 350
respectively. In which medium will the velocity of
light be minimum?
• Sol. For the same value of the angle of incidence
i, the refractive indices of A,B & C
• µA= sini/sin150 , µB= sini/sin250, µA= sini/sin300
• µA> µB> µC
• µ= c/v
• The velocity will be minimum in the medium for
which refractive index is maximum.
• As µA is maximum , so speed in media A is
minimum
• We know sin i /sin r = µ
• And µ= c/v
• Then c/v = sin i/ sin r
• As c and i are constant ,so
• v α sin r
• Hence the speed is minimum in the medium
in which angle of refraction is minimum.
• In medium A speed is minimum.
Principle of Reversibility of Light
• This principle state that if the final path of ray
of light after it has suffered several reflections
and refractions is reversed, it retraces its path
exactly i 1
• For refraction from medium1
• To medium 2 . 2
r
• Sin i / sin r = µ2 --------(1)
1

• For refraction from 2 to medium1

sin r / sin i = 2µ1 --------(2)
• Multiplying eq.1 and eq.2
• (sin i / sin r) ×( sin r / sin i) = 1µ2× 2µ1
• 1 = 1µ2× 2µ1
• 2µ = 1/ 1µ
1 2
Relation Between Real Depth and
Apparent Depth
• When an object is placed in the denser medium and
viewed from the rare medium them it appear to be
raised from the real position.
Here O is an object in denser medium and I is its
image.

• By Snell’s Law
• sin i/sin r =wµa
• sin i /sin r =1/aµw
• aµ = sin r/ sin i
w
• But sin i=AB/OB
• sin r = AB/BI
• aµ = OB/ IB
w
As aperture eye is small, so the pint A and B are
very close to each other.
• Hence OB= OA and IB = IA
• aµ = OA/ IA
w
• aµ = real depth / apparent depth
w
• Apparent depth = real depth/ aµw
• Apparent depth = t / aµw
• Shift in position = t - t / aµw
• Shift in position = t - t / aµw
• Shift in position = t(1 - 1 / aµw )
Lateral shift: The perpendicular distance
between incident ray and emergent ray is called
lateral shift.

• In ∆OBM
• sin (i – r) = BM/OB
• d = OB sin (i – r)---1 t i-r
r
• In ∆OBE M
• cos r = OE/OB d
E
• OB= OE/ cos r
• OB= t / cos r
Putting the value of OB in equ.1

• d = (t/cos r) sin (i – r)
Refraction through a combination of
medium
• Let a ray of light refracted i
from air(1) to water(2)
water to glass(3) and then Air (1)
air. r1
r1 Water (2)
• sin i/sin r1 = aµw ----1 r2
• sin r1/sin r2 = wµg ----2 r2 Glass(3)

• sin r2/sin i= gµa ---- 3 i

• Multiplying eq1,2 & 3 we
get
(sin i/sin r1 )×(sin r1/sin r2 )× (sin r2/sin i) = aµw ×wµg × gµa

• aµ
w ×wµg × gµa= 1 But gµa = 1/aµg
• aµ
w ×wµg ×1/ aµg= 1
• aµ
w ×wµg = aµg
• wµ
g = aµg / aµw
• wµ
g = µg / µw
Total Internal Reflection
Critical Angle: The angle of incidence in the denser medium for
which angle of refraction in the rare medium is 90 is called critical
angle
r2
r1 900 µ 2> µ 1
1 µ1
2 µ2
i=θc i r
i1 i2 i>θc
Total Internal Reflection
Total Internal Reflection
• When the light travels from denser medium to
rare medium and the angle of incidence is
more then critical angle(i>θc) then the light
does not pass in rare medium but reflect back
in the same medium. This phenomenon of light
is called total internal reflection (TIR)
Condition for Total Internal reflection

• 1- The light ray must pass from denser

medium to rare medium.
• 2- The angle of incidence must be greater
then critical angle.
Relation between refractive index
and critical angle
• By Snell’s Law we know that µ1
• Sin i/sin r = µ1/µ2 1
• Sin θc/ sin90 = 2µ1
• Sin θc = 1/ 1µ2 2
i=θc
• 1µ = 1/ sin θ
2 c
µ2
• 1µ = cosecθ
2 c
1µ = µ
2
• Sin θc = 1 / µ
Q- Find the speed of light in a medium, whose
critical angle is 300.
• Solution:
• We know µ = c/v also
• µ = 1/ sin θc
• or c/v = 1/sinθc
• or v = c sinθc
• v = 3×108×sin30
• v = 1.5×108 m/s
 Application of TIR
• (1) Totally reflecting prism:
• A right angle isosceles glass prism(45-90-45)
work as totally reflecting prism. The critical
angle for glass and air interface is nearly 420.
• (a) To deviate light ray through 900.
45

45
(b) To deviate light ray by 1800

• ray
45

45
(c) To invert an image without
deviating the rays
• Let an object AB is placed in front of a right
angle isosceles glass prism.

B A`

A B`
(2)Mirage: It is an optical illusion observed in
desert over hot extended surface like coal-tarred
road, due to which observer see a pound of water at
some distance in which inverted image of object like
tree, etc are formed.
(3) Sparkling of Diamond
(4)Optical fibers Light pipe
Principle: Optical fibers works on the
principle of total internal reflection of light.
• 1-Core (µ1)
• 2- Cladding (µ2)
• µ1 > µ2
Uses of Optical fibers
• 1- Fiber optic cables transmit large amounts of data
at very high speeds
• 2- Networking between computers in a single
building or across nearby structures is made easier
and faster with the use of fiber optic cables.
• 3- Lighting and Decoration
• 4- Fiber optic cables are widely used in the fields of
medicine and research.
• 5- for high security transmission of signals in army.
Q-Three rays of light red(R), green(G) and blue(B) are
incident on the face AB of a right angle prism ABC.
The refractive index of the material of the prism for
red , green and blue colour wavelength are 1.39 ,1.44
and 1.47 respectively . Out of three which colour rays
will emerges out of the face AC? Justify your answer.
Trace the path of these rays after passing through the
face AB ( 03,05,08,13)
A
• As the light incident
normally on face AB, B
so no refraction at G
this face . Light
incident of face AC R
at angle 45 450 C
B
The face AC will not transmit light for which
i> θc
• sin i> sin θc
A
• sin i> 1/µ
B
• µ > 1/sin(i) G
• µ > 1/sin(45) R
• µ > √2 450 C
B
• µ > 1.414
• As µR< µ and µG> µ and µB> µ , so only red
colour light is transmit through face AC and
other suffers total internal reflection.
• Path of the ray A
B
G
R
450 C
B
Q- A bulb is placed at the bottom of a tank containing
water to a depth of 80cm.What is the area of the
surface of water through which light of the bulb is
emerge out. Refractive index of water is 4/3 .
Consider the bulb to be a point source.
• Sol. we know for total
internal reflaction
r
• Sinθ = 1/µ
• Sinθ =3/4, Ɵ
Ɵ
• tanθ =3/√7 80cm
• tanθ = r/h
• r= h tanθ
 r = .80 x 3/√7

• Area of surface =π r2
• = 3.14 x(0.8 x3/√7)2
• = 3.14 x0.64 x9/7
• = 2.58 m2
Refraction from Spherical
Surface
• Spherical Refracting Surface:
• A spherical refracting surface is a part of a
sphere of refracting material.
• A refracting surface which is convex towards
the rarer medium is called convex refracting
surface.
• A refracting surface which is concave towards
the rarer medium is called concave refracting
surface.
 A spherical refracting surface is a part of a
sphere of refracting material.
• Convex surface : A refracting surface which is
convex towards the rarer medium is called convex
refracting surface.

Principle axis R
OPC
 • Concave surface

Rarer denser
Principle axis
C P
Assumptions:
1. Object is the point object lying on the principle axis.
2. The incident and the refracted rays make small angles
with the principal axis.
3. The aperture (diameter of the curved surface) is small.
New Cartesian Sign Conventions:
1. The incident ray is taken from left to right.
2. All the distances are measured from the pole of the
refracting surface.
3. The distances measured along the direction of the
incident ray are taken positive and against the
incident ray are taken negative.
4. The vertical distances measured from principal axis
in the upward direction are taken positive and in the
downward direction are taken negative.
Equation of Refraction from
Spherical Surface
• (A) Refraction from convex surface
1. Object is in rare medium and image is real
Rare(µ1) denser(µ2)
Let a point object O is placed in the rare medium
and real image I is in denser medium.
• By Snell’s Law
• µ1 sini = µ2 sinr for small angle
• sini ≈ i and sinr ≈ r ,hence
• µ1 i = µ2 r--------(1)
• In triangle ONC µ1 µ2
• Angle i= α + γ
• In triangle CNI
• angle r = γ - β
Putting the value of angle i and angle r in
equation 1 we get
• µ1 (α + γ) = µ2 (γ - β )--------(2)
• α ≈ tan α = NP/OP µ1 µ2
• β ≈ tan β = NP/IP
• γ ≈ tan γ = NP/CP
• by equation 2
 PN PN   PN PN 
1  +  = 2  −  Aperture of surface is
 OP CP   CP IP  very small, so P lies
 1 1   1 1 
1  +  = 2  −  very close to M
 OP CP   CP IP 
OP = -u , IP = +v and CP = +R

 1 1  1 1
• then 1  +  = 2  − 
 −u R  R v
  2 1    2 1 
 − = − 
 v u   R R

2 1  2 − 1
− =
v u R
(2)Object in rare medium and image is
virtual
In triangle ONC µ1
Angle i= α + γ
µ2
In triangle INC
Angle r = β + γ

2 1  2 − 1
− =
v u R
(3)Refraction from convex surface
when object in denser medium
• Let a point object
O is placed at r
point O on the i µ2
principle axis. M
β α γ
• Let I is the image P I O C
• By Snell’s Law µ1
• µ2sini= µ1sinr
• For small angle
• sin i ≈ i, sin r ≈ r
µ2 i = µ1 r

• i=α–γ
• r=β–γ
• µ2 (α – γ) = µ1 (β – γ) r
• α ≈ tanα = PM/OP M i µ2
β α γ
• β ≈ tanβ = PM/IP P I O C
• γ ≈ tanγ = PM/CP µ1
 PM PM   PM PM 
2  −  = 1  − 
 OP CP   IP CP 
 1 1   1 1 
2  −  = 1  − 
 OP CP   IP CP 
OP = -u, IP = -v , CP = -R

• Putting the value in the above equation

 1 1   1 1 
2  −  = 1  − 
 −u − R   −v − R
  2  2   1 1 
 + = + 
 −u R   −v R 
 1  2   1  2 
 − = − 
 v u  R R
1  2 1 −  2
− =
v u R
(B) Refraction of light from
concave surface
• Let a concave
surface of radius r
µ1 M
of curvature R. µ2
i
γ
• Let a point object α β
I C R P
O is placed on the O
v
principle axis.
u
• Let I is the image
By Snell’s Law
µ1sini= µ2sinr
• For small angle
• sin i ≈ i, sin r ≈ r
r
• µ2 i = µ1 r -------(1) µ1 M
µ2
• i=γ - α i
γ
α β
• r=γ- β O
I C R P
v
• µ1 (γ - α) = µ2 (γ - β)--2
• α ≈ tanα = PM/OP u

• β ≈ tanβ = PM/IP
• γ ≈ tanγ = PM/CP
Putting value of α, β and γ in equation 1.
 PM PM   PM PM 
1  −  = 2  − 
 CP OP   CP IP 
 1 1   1 1 
1  −  = 2  − 
 CP OP   CP IP 
 1 1   1 1 
1  −  = 2  − 
 − R −u   − R −v
 1 1    2  2 
 + = + 
−R u  −R v 
2 1  2 − 1
− =
v u R
Q- A sun sine recorder globe of 30cm diameter is made
of glass of refractive index µ =1.5. A ray enters the
globe parallel to the axis, find the position from the
centre of sphere where the ray cross the axis.
• For refraction from the first surface AP1
2 1  2 − 1
− =
v u R B
A
• u= ,v=v1 R=+15 P P2 I I1
1
• µ1 =1, µ2 = 1.5
1.5 1 1.5 − 1 O
− =
v1  15
 1.5 0.5 B
Or = A
v1 15
P1 O P2 I I1
Or v1 =45 cm
In the absence of second surface the ray meet
on the principle axis at I1 , where P1I1 =45 cm
The image I1 work as virtual object for second
surface BP2,
The distance of I1 from second surface P2 is
P2I1 = 45-30 =15 cm
Object distance for second surface u =+15 cm
For refraction from the second surface , here the
incidence ray travels in denser medium.
• The equation of refraction 1 −  2 = 1 −  2
v u R
• u= +15cm , µ1 =1, µ2 = 1.5
• R = -15 cm
1 1.5 1 − 1.5 1 1.5 − 0.5
− = − =
v 15 − 15 v 15 − 15
1 15 5 1 1 1
− = − =
v 150 150 v 10 30
1 1 1
• = +
v 30 10
or v= +7.5 Distance from the centre
=15+7.5 = 22.5cm