FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

# 33, Sector IV, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560102

SCHOOL CODE: 45175 AFFILIATION NUMBER: 830183

PHYSICS PROJECT
ON
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANGLE OF
INCIDENCE AND ANGLE OF
DEVIATION IN A PARAFFIN PRISM

SUBMITTED BY
SAI SREEMAYEE SISTLA
Class XI A

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Ms. BULTI SAHA
PGT – Physics

Vice Principal Principal

Ms. Clara David Ms. Sneha Rai
Freedom International School Freedom International School
Bangalore Bangalore
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks and gratitude to my

teacher and project guide Ms. Bulti Saha who gave me this
wonderful opportunity to work on this interesting project, which
required a lot of research and was an excellent learning
experience.
My sincere thanks goes to Ms. Sneha Rai, our Principal, for her
coordination in extending every possible support for the
completion of this project.
I also extend my sincere thanks to our lab assistant, Ms. Aruna P
for her assistance during the project work.
I also thank my parents for their constant motivation and
support.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all those who had helped
me directly or indirectly towards the completion of this project.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this project is to investigate the relationship
between the angle of incidence and the angle of deviation of a ray
of light passing through an equilateral paraffin prism. Geometric,
graphical and calculus-based tools have been used in this analysis.
The derivation of the relationship between the angles of deviation,
incidence and emergence is done geometrically. The laws of
refraction have been used to derive a mathematical expression for
the angles of emergence and deviation in terms of the angle of
incidence. This is treated by method of derivatives and by
graphical analysis to investigate the conditions for achieving
minimum angle of deviation. The minimum angle of deviation is
related with the refractive index from the above results. Finally,
the theoretical data is correlated with experimental data and the
results of the study are recorded.

INTRODUCTION
Refraction is the phenomenon in which a ray of light incident on
a surface separating two different transparent media bends while
moving from one medium to another. Refraction is governed by
two basic laws,
(i) The incident ray, refracted ray and the normal at the
point of incidence are coplanar.
(ii) Snell’s Law. For a given pair of transparent media and
light of a particular frequency, the ratio of the sine of
the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of
 refraction is a constant, known as the refractive index
of the pair of media and represented by μ.
sin 𝑖
μ = sin 𝑟

The refractive index of a pair of media (1, 2) is also given by

𝑣2
μ12 = 𝑣1,

where v1 and v2 represent the velocity of light in media 1 and 2

respectively.
The absolute refractive index of a medium is defined as the ratio
of the velocity of light in air or vacuum to the velocity of light in
the given medium. The values of refractive index used in this
project refer to the absolute refractive index of the given medium.
An optical prism is a device with flat and polished surfaces, of
which at least two are inclined to each other at a nonzero angle.
The prism under study in this project is a triangular prism, which
consists of two parallel triangular surfaces bounded by three
rectangular angled surfaces. When a ray of light passes through a
prism, the angle between the two rectangular surfaces through
which it travels is known as the angle of prism. The material of
the prism used in this project is paraffin, which is a colourless
organic substance having an absolute refractive index of 1.4. The
prism under study is equilateral, therefore, the angle of prism
𝜋
A = 3 . Unless specified otherwise, all angle measurements in this
project are in radians.
RELATING ANGLES OF DEVIATION,
INCIDENCE AND EMERGENCE
Consider a cross-section ABC of a prism placed in air. Here, AB
and AC are the refracting surfaces, ML and NL are the normals
to the refracting surfaces, and ∠BAC is the angle of prism. A ray
of light, PQ is incident at AB with an angle of incidence i. The
ray gets refracted for the first time at the air-prism interface with
an angle of refraction r. It then travels along the path PQ. The ray
gets refracted at the prism-air interface AC with an angle of
incidence r’. After refraction, the emergent ray follows the path
RS forming an angle of emergence e with the normal.
A

Z
T
M  N

i e
Q
r r’ R

P S
B C

PT represents the path of the incident ray PQ extended forward.

Similarly, ST represents the path of the reflected ray SR extended
backwards. The angle ∠RTZ formed by the intersection of PT and
ST is the angle of deviation δ.
In the triangle ΔQRT,
∠TQR + ∠TRQ = ∠RTZ = δ [external angle property]
(∠TQL – ∠LQR) + (∠TRL – ∠LRQ) = δ
∵ ∠TQL = ∠PQM = i, ∠TRL = ∠SRN = e,
[vertically opposite angles]
∴ (i – r) + (e – r’) = δ
Rearranging,
(i + e) – (r + r’) = δ …(1)

In the quadrilateral LQRA,

∠LQA + ∠QAR + ∠ARL + ∠RLQ = 2π
[angle sum property]
𝜋
∵ ∠LQA = ∠ARL = 2 , ∴ ∠QAR + ∠RLQ = π
A = π – ∠RLQ …(2)
In triangle ΔQRL,
∠RQL + ∠QRL = r + r’ = π – ∠RLQ …(3)
[angle sum property]
From (2) and (3),
A = r + r’
Replacing in (1),
(i + e) – A = δ ⇒ i+e=A+δ …(4)
EXPRESSIONS FOR ANGLE OF
EMERGENCE AND DEVIATION
The following relationship between angle of incidence and
emergence is first derived in order to further mathematically
analyse the expression relating δ, e and i.
In the given prismatic cross-section ΔABC,
sin 𝑖 sin 𝑒
= sin 𝑟′ = μ, …(5) [Snell’s Law]
sin 𝑟

where μ is the refractive index of the material of the prism.

sin 𝑖
r = sin–1( ) …(6)
𝜇

e = sin–1(μsin r’) …(7)

Using the relationship between r and r’ from equation (4),
e = sin–1(μsin (A – r))
From equation (6),
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒊
e = sin–1(μsin (A – sin–1( 𝝁
))) …(8)

Clearly, from the above expression, it can be inferred that for a

prism with a given angle A and made of material of refractive
index μ, the angle of emergence e depends only on the angle of
incidence i.

Now, using equation (4),

𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒊
δ = = i + sin–1(μsin (A – sin–1( 𝝁
))) – A …(9)
MINIMUM ANGLE OF DEVIATION
From equation (4), it is established that the angle of deviation is
dependent on the angles of incidence and emergence. The
minimum angle of deviation is unique for a given prism of
particular material. The conditions on i and e to achieve minimum
angle of deviation, δmin, are investigated below.
It is found that the minimum angle of deviation, δmin, is achieved
when the refracted ray passes through the prism symmetrically,
i.e. when i = e.

Geometrical Argument
The proof that δmin occurs when angle of incidence and emergence
are equal i = e is established by contradiction.
Case I. Let the angle of incidence be greater than angle of
emergence,
i > e for the given ray when δ = δmin.
Consider a second ray which is incident to the prism at angle e.
This ray will have the angle of emergence equal to i and angle of
deviation equal to δ = δmin. From the given data, i > e. However,
according to our assumption, the angle of incidence must be
greater than the angle of emergence for δ = δmin. Therefore, for
the second ray, e > i. This is a contradiction.
Case II. Let the angle of incidence be smaller than the angle of
emergence,
i > e for the given ray when δ = δmin. Consider a second ray which
is incident to the prism at angle e. This ray will have the angle of
emergence equal to i and angle of deviation equal to δ = δmin.
From the given data, i < e. However, according to our assumption,
the angle of incidence must be smaller than the angle of
emergence for δ = δmin. Therefore, for the second ray, e < i. This
is a contradiction.
From the above two cases, it is clear that for δmin, i = e.

M T N
min
i e
Q r r R
’
L

P S

B C

Analysis by using Calculus

By using equations (4) and (8), the following relationship
between δ and i is derived.
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒊
δ = f(i) = i + sin–1(μsin (A – sin–1( ))) – A
𝝁
The minima of the above function in i gives δmin. Hence, we
equate the derivative of f(i) to zero to find the minima.
δmin ⇒ f’(i) = 0
𝜋
Taking μ = 1.4 and A = 3 for the prism under study,
f’(i) has the root 0.775.

Graphical Analysis
The following graph is obtained when angle of incidence i (on x
axis) is plotted against angle of deviation δ (on y axis) for an
equilateral paraffin prism with μ = 1.4.

In the above graph,

 𝜋 sin 𝑖 𝜋
δ = f(i) = i + sin–1(1.4sin (3 – sin–1( 1.4 ))) – 3
The minima of this graph corresponds to (0.775, 0.504).
Therefore, for an equilateral paraffin prism,
δmin = 0.504 radians = 28.87 degrees
Corresponding i = 0.775 radians = 44.4 degrees.
Now, the following graph shows i (on x axis) is plotted against e
(on y axis) for the same prism.

𝜋 sin 𝑖
In the above graph, e = f(i) = sin–1(1.4sin ( – sin–1( ))).
3 1.4

As seen, the line y = x intersects the curve at (0.775, 0.775).

Therefore, at δmin = 0.504, i = e = 0.775 radians.
MINIMUM ANGLE OF DEVIATION AND
REFRACTIVE INDEX
It has been shown that, for achieving minimum angle of deviation
δmin, the angles of incidence and emergence must be equal, that is,
i = e. Using Snell’s law it can easily be shown that in such a case,
r = r’.
Therefore, for minimum deviation, i = e and r = r’.
Using equation (4),
𝛿 min + 𝐴
δmin = 2i – A ⇒ i= …(10)
2
𝐴
Also, A = r + r’ = 2r ⇒ r = 2 …(11)
By Snell’s Law,
sin 𝑖
= μ. Inserting the values of i and r from equations (10) and
sin 𝑟
(11),
𝜹 𝐦𝐢𝐧 + 𝑨
𝐬𝐢𝐧
μ= 𝟐
𝑨 …(12)
𝐬𝐢𝐧
𝟐

This is the expression for refractive index μ in terms of minimum

angle of deviation, δmin.
Inserting the values of i and δmin for paraffin calculated above in
equation (12),
 𝜋
0.504+ 3
sin sin 0.7755 0.7
μ= 2
𝜋 = = = 1.4, which is in agreement with
sin 0.5 0.5
6
the theoretical value of μ used in the previous calculations.

EXPERIMENTAL CORRELATION
Objective:
To study the relationship between angle of incidence, emergence
and deviation in an equilateral paraffin prism.

Apparatus:
(i) Paraffin optical prism
(ii) Drawing board
(iii) Paper
(iv) Pins
(v) Ruler
(vi) Pencil
(vii) Protractor

Theory:
The angles of incidence i, angle of emergence e and angle of
deviation δ are related by equation (4) as
i+e=A+δ
Therefore, if the path of the incident, refracted and emergent ray
are traced, the above expression can be verified.

Procedure:
(i) The paper is secured on the drawing board with the help
of pins and the prism is placed at the centre of the paper.
(ii) The outline of the prism is drawn using a sharp pencil.
It is labelled as ABC.
(iii) After removing the prism, normals are drawn to the two
sides AB and AC at points Q and R, meeting at L, using
a ruler and pencil. These are labelled as ML and NL.
(iv) Using the protractor, the chosen angle is constructed at
the side AB from a point P with respect to the normal
ML at the point Q. This is the angle of incidence i. The
incident ray is the ray PQ.
(v) Two pins P1 and P2 are placed upon the ray PQ.
(vi) The prism is placed back in the outline ABC. The two
pins placed on PQ are visualised from the side AC of
the prism. Two more pins P3 and P3 are placed such that
P1, P2, P3 and P4 all appear to coincide.
(vii) The pins are removed. A line RS is drawn joining P3
and P4. This is the reflected ray. The line QR within the
outline of the prism is joined. This is the incident ray.
(viii) The rays PQ and RS are extended backwards to meet at
a point T. Let the ray PQ cut the prism at a point Z. The
angle RTZ is the angle of deviation δ.
(ix) The steps (iv) to (viii) are repeated for four values of i.
 Observations
Least count of ruler = 1 mm = 0.001 m
Least count of protractor = 1 degree = 0.017 radians
S.No. Angle of Angle of emergence = Angle of deviation =
Incidence = e (radians) δ (radians)
i (radians)
Observed Theoretical Observed Theoretical
1
2

3
4 0.775

Calculations
(i) Theoretical value of angle of emergence =
sin 𝑖
sin–1(μsin (A – sin–1( )))
𝜇
(ii) Theoretical value of angle of deviation =
sin 𝑖
i + sin–1(μsin (A – sin–1( ))) – A
𝜇
(iii) Theoretical value of refractive index =
𝛿 min + 𝐴
sin
μ= 2
𝐴
sin
2
Observations
(i) For angle of incidence = i1 = _____, the observed angle
of emergence = e1 = _____ and the observed angle of
deviation = δ1 = _____.
(ii) For angle of incidence = i2 = _____, the observed angle
of emergence = e2 = _____ and the observed angle of
deviation = δ2 = _____.
(iii) For angle of incidence = i3 = _____, the observed angle
of emergence = e3 = _____ and the observed angle of
deviation = δ3 = _____.
(iv) For angle of incidence = i4 = 0.775, the observed angle
of emergence = e4 = _____ and the observed angle of
deviation = δ4 = _____.
(v) Observed value of refractive index = _____.

Result
The relationship between angles of incidence, emergence and
deviation has been verified.
The relationship between minimum angle of deviation and
refractive index has been verified.
REFERENCES
Concepts of Physics, vol. 1, H. C. Verma
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class-12th-physics-
india/in-in-ray-optics-and-optical-instruments/in-in-refraction-
in-prisms/v/deriving-prism-formula
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class-12th-physics-
india/in-in-ray-optics-and-optical-instruments/in-in-refraction-
in-prisms/v/minimum-deviation-in-prism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_prism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snell%27s_law#Derivations_and_f
ormula
https://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=1&brch=6&sim=246&cnt=2
https://www.derivative-calculator.net/
https://www.desmos.com/calculator/zyhwgdrcgg