®

ul
ti
pl
Numerical Problems on e

Dispersion of Light
01. A ray of light incident at an angle 50o, is refracted through a prism
in minimum deviation. The angle of the prism is 60o. Find the angle
of minimum deviation and refractive index of the prism.
sin  A   m  / 2
From the equation,   , deduce m for  = 1.333 (for
sin  A / 2
02.

water) and  = 1.740 (methyl iodide), taking A = 60o.

03. A prism is made of glass of unknown refractive index. A parallel
beam of light is incident on a face of the prism. By rotating the
prism, the minimum angle of deviation is measured to be 40o. What
is the refractive index of the prism? If the prism is placed in water
(refractive index 1.33), predict the new angle of minimum deviation
of a parallel beam of light. The refracting angle of the prism is 60o.
04. Calculate the angular dispersion between violet and red colors
produced by a small angled prism with vertex angle 5o. Refractive
index of the material of the prism for violet = 1.66 and that for red
= 1.54.
05. The refractive indices of flint glass for blue and red colors are 1.664
and 1.644. Calculate its dispersive power.
06. Using a spectrometer, the following data are obtained for a crown
glass prism and a flint glass prism :
Crown glass prism : Angle of the prism, A = 72.0o
Minimum deviation angle :
b = 54.6o, r = 53.0o, y = 54.0o
Flint glass prism : Angle of prism, A = 60.0o b = 52.8o, r = 50.6o, y =
51.9o.
 Here, b, r and y refer to particular wavelengths in the blue, red and
yellow bands. Compare the dispersive powers of the two verities of
glass prism.
07. Find the angle of dispersion between the red and violet colours
produced by a flint glass prism of refracting angle of 60o. Refractive
indices of prism for violet and red colours are 1.663 and 1.622
respectively.
08. You are given prisms made of crown glass and flint glass with a
wide variety of angles. Suggest a combination of prisms which will :
(a) deviate a pencil of white light without much dispersion (b)
disperse (and displace) a pencil of white light without much
deviation.
09. For a flint glass prism,  = 1.642, 1.647, 1.661 and 1.672 for  = 6.56
× 10-5 cm, 5.89 × 10-5 cm, 4.86 × 10-5 cm, and 4.38 × 10-5 cm
respectively. Deduce m for each case (taking A = 60o) and plot a
graph between  and m.
10. A ray PQ, incident normally on the refracting face BA, is refracted in
the prism BAC made of material of refractive 1.5. Complete the path
of ray through the prism [fig.]. From which face will the ray emerge?
Justify your answer. A

P
Q
60o
B C

11. A thin prism of 5o angle gives a deviation of 3.2o. What is the

refractive index of the material of the prism?
12. Calculate the dispersive power for flint glass from the given data. b
= 1.664, r = 1.644.
13. The refractive indices of crown and flint glasses for violet and red
lights are 1.523, 1.513 and 1.773, 1.743 respectively. Find the
dispersive powers of the glasses.
14. Find the angular dispersion produced by a prism of 10o. Given that
 = 1.65 and r = 1.55.
15. Find the angle of the prism of dispersive power 0.021 and refractive
index 1.52 to form an achromatic combination with a prism of angle
4.2o and dispersive power 0.045 having refractive index 1.65. Find
the resulting deviation.
16. A ray of light passing through an equilateral triangular glass prism
from air undergoes minimum deviation when angle of incidence is
(3/4)th of the angle of prism. Calculate the speed of light in
vacuum.
17. A ray of light passes through an equilateral glass prism such that
the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of emergence. If the
angle of emergence is (3/4) times the angle of prism, calculate the
refractive index of the glass prism.
18. Show that the angle of minimum deviation produced by a thin prism
is reduced to one-fourth with respect to air when thin prism is
reduced to one-fourth with respect to air when it is immersed in
3 4
water. Given a  g  and a w  .
2 3
19. A ray of light passes through an equilateral prism ( = 1.5) such that
the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of emergence and the
latter is equal to (3/4)th of angle of prism. Calculate the angle of
deviation.
20. Calculate the limiting angle of a glass prism of refractive index 1.5
for now emergent ray when it is immersed in water (aw = 4/3).
21. A glass prism of refracting angle 60o and refractive index 1.5 is
completely immersed in water of refractive index 1.33. Calculate the
 angle of minimum deviation of the prism in this situation. (sin-1 0.56
= 34.3o)
22. (a) Find the lateral displacement of a light ray incident at an angle of
45o on a glass slab ( = 1.5) of 2.0 cm thickness.
(b) If  = 1.6, would lateral displacement be the same, larger or
smaller? Explain your answer conceptually and then calculate the
actual value to verify your reasoning.
23. Three light rays; red (R), green (G) and blue (B) are incident on a
right angled prism ‘abc’ at the face ‘ab’, as shown in fig. The
refractive indices of the material of the prism for red, green and
blue wavelengths are 1.39, 1.44 and 1.47 respectively.
a

B
G
R
45o
b c

Out of the three, which colour ray will emerge out of the face ‘ac’?
Justify your answer. Trace the paths of these rays after they pass
through the face ‘ab’.
24. One face of a prism of refractive index 1.5 and angle 75o is covered

 
with a liquid of refractive index 3 2 / 4 . What should be the angle

of incidence of light on the clear face of the prism for which light is
just totally reflected at the liquid covered face?

25.  
A ray of light, incident on an equilateral glass prism g  3 moves

parallel to the base of the prism inside it. Find the angle of
incidence for this ray.