(1) There is one and only one angle of incidence for which the angle

of deviation is minimum.
(2) When  = min , the angle of minimum deviation, then i = e and
r1 = r2, the ray passes symmetrically w.r.t. the refracting surfaces.
We can show by simple calculation that min = 2imin – A
where imin = angle of incidence for minimum deviation and r = A/2.

 nrel =
sin 
A  m
2
 , where n =
n prism
sin A2   rel
nsurroundings
Alsomin = (n  1) A (for small values of  A)
(3) For a thin prism ( A 10o) and for small value of i, all values of
nprism
 = ( nrel  1 ) A where nrel =
nsurrounding
10. Dispersion Of Light
The angular splitting of a ray of white light into a number of components
and spreading in different directions is called Dispersion of Light. This
phenomenon is because waves of different wavelength move with same
speed in vacuum but with different speeds in a medium.
The refractive index of a medium depends slightly on wavelength also.
This variation of refractive index with wavelength is given by Cauchy’s
formula.
b
Cauchy's formula n () = a  where a and b are positive constants
2
of a medium.
Angle between the rays of the extreme colours in the refracted (dispersed) light is
called angle of dispersion.
For prism of small ‘A’ and with small ‘i’ :  = (nv – nr)A
Deviation of beam(also called mean deviation)  = y = (ny – 1)A
Dispersive power () of the medium of the material of prism is given by:
n v  nr
 = n 1
y

For small angled prism ( A 10o ) with light incident at small angle i :
n v  nr  v  r 
ny  1 = = y
 y

angular dispersion
=
deviation of mean ray (yellow)

Page # 63
 n v  nr
[ ny = if ny is not given in the problem ]
2
 v  r nv  nr n v  nr
= = n  1 [take ny = if value of ny is not given in
y y 2
the problem]
nv, nr and ny are R. I. of material for violet, red and yellow colours respectively.

11. Combination of Two Prisms

Two or more prisms can be combined in various ways to get different
combination of angular dispersion and deviation.
(a) Direct Vision Combination (dispersion without deviation)
The condition for direct vision combination is :

 n v nr   n v  n r 
  1 A    1 A  n y 1 A = ny 1 A
 2   2 
(b) Achromatic Combination (deviation without dispersion.)
Condition for achromatic combination is: (nv  nr) A = (nv  nr) A

12. Refraction at Spherical Surfaces

For paraxial rays incident on a spherical surface separating two media:
n2 n n n1
 1 = 2
v u R
where light moves from the medium of refractive index n1 to the medium
of refractive index n2.

Transverse magnification (m) (of dimension perpendicular to principal axis)

v  R  v / n 2 
due to refraction at spherical surface is given by m = = 
u  R  u / n1 
13. Refraction at Spherical Thin Lens
A thin lens is called convex if it is thicker at the middle and it is
called concave if it is thicker at the ends.
For a spherical, thin lens having the same medium on both sides:
1 1  1 1 nlens
 = (nrel  1)    where nrel =
v u  R1 R2  nmedium

Page # 64
 1  1 1
= (nrel  1)   
f  R1 R2 

1 1 1
 =  Lens Maker's Formula
v u f

v
m=
u
1 1 1 1
Combination Of Lenses:    ...
F f1 f2 f3

OPTICAL INSTRUMENT

SIMPLE MICROSCOPE
D
 Magnifying power : U
0

D
 when image is formed at infinity M 
f
D
 When change is formed at near print D. MD  1 
f

COMPOUND MICROSCOPE
Magnifying power Length of Microscope
V0D 0
M L = V0 + Ue
U0U e

V0D
M  L = V0 + f e
U0 f e

V0  D D.f e
MD  1   LD = V0  D  f
U0  f 
 e  e

Page # 65
Astronomical Telescope
Magnifying power Length of Microscope
f0
M=  L = f + ue.
e

f0
M  L = f0 + fe
fe

f0  f  Df e
MD  1  e  LD= f 0 + D  f
fe  D e

Terrestrial Telescope
Magnifying power Length of Microscope
f0
M L= f 0 + 4f + Ue.
Ue

f0
M  L = f 0 + 4f + fe.
fe

f0  fe  Df e
MD  1   LD = f 0 + 4f + D  f
fe  D e

Galilean Telescope
Magnifying power Length of Microscope
f0
M L = f 0 - Ue.
Ue

f0
M  L = f 0 - fe.
fe

f0  f  fe D
MD  1 – e  LD = f 0 – D – f
fe  d e

Resolving Power
1 2 sin 
Microscope R  
d 
1 a
Telescope. R  
 1.22

Page # 66