REFRACTION OF LIGHT AT PLANE SURFACES

The return of light in the same medium after striking a polished

surface is called reflection of light.

Reflection of a light ray obeys two laws:

(i) the be angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence, and
(ii) the incident ray, the normal at the point of incidence and the
reflected ray, all lie in one plane.

REFRACTION OF LIGHT
The change in the direction
of the path of light, when it
passes from one
transparent medium to
another transparent
medium, is called
refraction.

The refraction of light is

essentially a surface
phenomenon.
Observations:
(1) When a ray of light travels from a rarer medium to a denser
medium it bends towards the normal. [ RaDiaTioN ]
(2) When a ray of light travels from a denser medium to a rarer
medium it bends away from the normal. [ DRAwiNg ]
(3) The ray of light incident normally on the surface separating the
two media, passes undeviated.

Cause of refraction (or cause change in direction)

When a ray of light passes from one medium to another medium, its
direction changes because of the change in speed of light in going
from one medium to another.

LAWS OF REFRACTION
Refraction of light obeys two laws of refraction which were given by
the Dutch scientist Willebrod Snell, so they are known as Snell's
Laws after his name. They are:

(1) The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal at the point of
incidence, all lie in the same plane.
(2) The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence i to the sine of the
angle of refraction r is constant for the pair of given media. i.e.,
mathematically.
sin i / sin r = constant

Refractive index
The refractive index of second medium with respect to the first
medium is defined as “the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence
in the first medium to the sine of the angle of refraction in the
second medium.”

Unit: The refractive index has no unit as it is the ratio of two similar
quantities.

Effect on speed (V), frequency (f) and wavelength due to refraction

of light
1. When a ray of light gets refracted from a rarer to a denser
medium, the speed of light decreases;
while if it is refracted from a denser to a rarer medium, the speed of
light increases.

2. The frequency f of light depends on the source of light, so it does

not change on refraction.

3.The speed of light V in a medium is related to its wavelength (in

that medium), and the frequency ƒ as: V = f λ

SPEED OF LIGHT IN DIFFERENT MEDIA; RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN REFRACTIVE INDEX AND SPEED OF LIGHT (μ = c/V)

The refractive index of a medium is generally defined with respect

to vacuum (or air), and is called the absolute refractive index (or
simply the refractive index) of the medium. It is denoted by the
letter μ.

The refractive index of a medium is defined as the ratio of the

speed of light in vacuum (or air) to the speed of light in that
medium, i.e.,
μ = Speed of light in vacuum or air (c) / Speed of light in that
medium (V)

Conditions for a light ray to pass undeviated on refraction:

Following two conditions:
(1) When the angle of incidence at the boundary of two media is
zero.
(2) When the refractive index of medium 2 is same as that of
medium 1.

Factors affecting the refractive index of a medium

(1) Nature of the medium on the basis of speed of light:

Less the speed of light in a medium as compared to that in air,
more is the refractive index of the medium.

(2) Physical condition such as temperature:

With increase in temperature, the speed of light in the medium
increases, so the refractive index of the medium decreases.

(3) The colour or wavelength of light:

The speed of light of all the colours is the same in air (or vacuum),
but in any other transparent medium, the speed of light is different
for different colours.
In a given medium, the speed of red light is maximum and that of
the violet light is least, therefore the refractive index of that medium
is maximum for violet light and least for red light.

Principle of Reversibility of
Light -
“The path of ray light is
reversible”

Lateral displacement
The perpendicular distance
between the path of
emergent ray and the
direction of incident ray is
called lateral displacement.

Factors affecting Lateral

Displacement:
i) Thickness – directly
proportional
ii) Angle of incidence - directly proportional
iii) Refractive Index - directly proportional

Multiple Images
If an object is placed in front of a
thick glass plate and viewed
obliquely a number of images are
seen. The second is brightest
others are of decreasing
brightness.

PRISM
A prism is a transparent
medium bounded by five plane
surfaces with a triangular
cross section.

REFRACTION OF LIGHT
THROUGH A GLASS PRISM
A monochromatic ray of light
(ie., a light ray of single colour).
A + Deviation = i + e

Factors Affecting Angle of Deviation:

i) the angle of incidence –

ii) the material of prism – higher refractive index produces greater

deviation
iii) Angle of prism – increase
iv) colour/wavelength – violet deviates most

REAL AND APPARENT DEPTH

An object placed in a denser medium
when viewed from a rarer medium,
appears to be at a depth lesser than
its real depth. This is because of
refraction of light.

The shift by which the object

appears to be raised depends on:
(1) the refractive index of the medium,
(2) the thickness of the denser medium, and
(3) the colour (or wavelength) of incident light.

APPARENT BENDING OF A STICK UNDER WATER

SOME CONSEQUENCES OF
REFRACTION OF LIGHT
In our daily life we come across
many phenomena which are
caused by refraction of light. Some
of these are given below:
(i) A star appears twinkling in the sky due to change in refractive
index of air with Temperature.

(ii) The sun is seen a few minutes before it rises above the horizon
in the morning while in the evening
few minutes longer after it sets.

(iii) A coin kept in a vessel and not visible

when seen from just below the edge of the
vessel, can be viewed from the same position
when water is poured into the vessel.

(iv) The print on paper appears to be raised when a glass slab is

placed over it.
(v) A piece of paper stuck at the bottom of a glass slab appears to
be raised when seen from above.
(vi) A water tank appears shallow than its actual depth.
(vii) A person's legs appear to be short when standing in a pool or
water tank.
TRANSMISSION OF LIGHT FROM A DENSER MEDIUM (GLASS OR
WATER) TO A RARER MEDIUM (AIR) AT DIFFERENT ANGLES OF
INCIDENCE
Case (i) when the angle of incidence is small (i<C).
Case (ii) when the angle of incidence is equal to the critical angle ( I
= C ).
Case (iii) when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical
angle (I >C).

CRITICAL ANGLE
Critical angle is the angle of incidence in the denser medium
corresponding to which the angle of refraction in the rarer medium
is 90°.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRITICAL ANGLE AND REFRACTIVE

INDEX (mu = 1 / sin C)
Factors Affecting the Critical Angle:
i) colour/wavelength – increase (direct relation)
ii) temperature – increase (direct relation)

TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION

When a ray of light travelling in a denser medium, is incident at the
surface of a rarer medium at an angle of incidence greater than the
critical angle for the pair of media, the ray is totally reflected back
into the denser medium. This phenomenon is called total internal
reflection.

Essential conditions for total internal reflection:

There are two necessary conditions for total internal reflection :
(1) The light must travel from a denser to a rarer medium.
(2) The angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle for
the pair of media.

Refraction and total internal reflection of light rays at different

angles of incidence’
TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION IN A PRISM
(1) Total internal reflection through a 45°, 90°, 45° prism (or right-
angled isosceles prism)

a) To deviate a ray of light through 90°

b) To deviate a ray of light through 180°

c) To erect an inverted image without deviation

(2) Total internal reflection through a prism where each angle is 60°
(i.e., equilateral prism)
(3) Total internal reflection and refraction of light through a 30°, 90°,
60° prism (or right angled prism)

Non occurrence of total internal reflection through a 30°, 90°, 60°

prism

Exception: A ray of light incident normally on

the hypotenuse of the prism below the foot of
the perpendicular on it from its opposite
corner, suffers total internal reflection and gets
deviated by an angle greater than 60°.
SOME CONSEQUENCES OF TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION
Some of these are given below:
(1) On a hot sunny day, a driver may see a pool of water (or wet
road) in front of him at some distance. It is the phenomenon of
mirage which is often observed in a desert.
(2) A crack in a glass vessel often shines like a mirror.
(3) A piece of diamond sparkles when viewed from certain
directions.

Distinction between total internal reflection and reflection from a

plane mirror

Total internal reflection Reflection from a plane mirror

1. It takes place only when 1. It takes place when light is
light passes from a denser incident on a plane mirror
medium to a rarer medium from any medium at any
at an angle of incidence angle of incidence.
greater than the critical
angle for that pair of media.
2. The entire light is 2. Only a part of light is
reflected. reflected while rest is
refracted and absorbed.
3. There is no loss of 3. There is a loss of energy.
energy. The energy of the The energy of the reflected
reflected ray is the same as ray is always less than that
that of the incident ray. of the incident ray.

1 MARKS
1. The deviation produced by an equilateral prism does not
depends on:
(a) the angle of incidence
(b) the size of the prism
(c) the material of the prism
(d) the colour of light used

Ans. (b) the size of the prism

2. The refractive index of a diamond is 2.4. It means that:

(a) the speed of light in vacuum is equal to 1 / 2.4 times the speed
of light in diamond.
(b) the speed of light in the diamond is 2.4 times the speed of
light in vacuum.
(c) the speed of light in vacuum is 2.4 times the speed of light in
the diamond.
(d) the wavelength of light in diamond is 2.4 times the wavelength
of light in vacuum.

Ans. (c) the speed of light in vacuum is 2.4 times the speed of
light in the diamond.

3. A ray of light IM is incident on a glass slab ABCD as shown in

the figure below. The emergent ray for this incident ray is:
(a) NQ
(b) NR
(c) NP
(d) NS

Ans. (a) NQ

4. Choose the correct statement with respect to refraction of

light:
(a) The frequency always changes when light enters from one
optical medium to another.
(b) Absorption of light when it strikes the surface of a medium is
refraction.
c) Speed of light changes when it enters from one optical medium
to another of different optical density.
(d) Speed of light does not change when it enters from one optical
medium to another of different optical density.

Ans. (c) Speed of light changes when it enters from one optical
medium to another of different optical density.

5. When a ray of light enters from a denser medium to a rarer

medium then:
(a) The light ray bends towards the normal
(b) The speed of light increases
(c) The angle of incidence is greater than the angle of refraction
(d) Its wavelength decreases.

Ans. (b) The speed of light increases.

6. In the diagram shown below:

(a) B is incident ray and C is

refracted ray.
(b) A is incident ray and B is
refracted ray.
(c) C is incident ray and B is
refracted ray.
(d) A is incident ray and C is refracted ray.

Ans. (d) A is incident ray and C is refracted ray.

7. The principle of reversibility of light states that:
(a) Angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.
(b) The path of a light ray is reversible.
(c) There is no change in path of ray of light when it passes from
one medium to another.
(d) n = sini / sinr

Ans. (b) The path of a light ray is reversible.

8. The phenomenon of mirage occurs due to:

(a) reflection
(b) refraction
(c) diffraction
(d) total internal reflection

Ans. (d) total internal reflection

9. A water pond appears to be 2.4 m deep. If the refractive index

of water is 4, the actual 3' depth of pond is:
(a) 2.4 m
(b) 3.2 m
(c) 3.6 m
(d) 4.0 m

Ans. (b) 3.2 m

2 MARKS
1. The wavelength of light in a medium A is 600 nm. The wave
enters medium B of refractive index 1.5 with respect to medium
A.
(A) Select the correct option from the following:
(a) The wavelength of light becomes 1.5 times the initial
wavelength.
(b) The wavelength of light decreases.
(c) The wavelength becomes half of initial wavelength.
(d) The wave bends away from the normal.
Ans. (A) (b) The wavelength of light decreases.

(B) The wavelength in medium B will be:

(a) 400 nm
(b) 900 nm
(c) 300 nm
(d) Information is insufficient to calculate

Ans. (a) 400 nm

2.(A) Select correct options for Total internal reflection in a

medium:
(a) can take place in an optically denser medium as compared to
an optically rarer medium.
(b) takes place for any angle of incidence greater than 42 degree.
(c) this reflection does not obey the laws of reflection.
(d) can take place if the angle of incidence in a denser medium is
less than the critical angle.

Ans. (A) (a) can take place in an optically denser medium as

compared to an optically rarer medium.

(B) Diamonds glitter in the dark because:

(a) they emit light.
(b) they have a very small critical angle due to very high
refractive index.
(c) due to the fluorescence.
(d) chemical reaction in the diamond produces light energy.

Ans. (B) (b) they have a very small critical angle due to very high
refractive index.

3. (A) A ray of light travels undeviated on passing through the

optical boundary:
(a) if both mediums are same.
(b) both have the same refractive index.
(c) the ray makes an angle of 0° with the normal.
(d) all of the above

Ans. (A) (d) all of the above

(B) Two light rays incident parallel to each other on an optical

boundary will undergo the same refraction.
(a) true
(b) false
(c) can't say
(d) none of the above

(B) (a) true

4. A ray of light falls normally on a rectangular glass slab. Draw a

ray diagram showing the path of the ray till it emerges out of the
slab.
5. Complete the path of the
monochromatic light ray AB
incident on the surface PQ of
the equilateral glass prism PQR
till it emerges out of the prism
due to refraction.

6. A pond appears to be 2.7 m deep. If the refractive index of

water is 4/3 find the actual depth of pond.
7. The following diagram shows as 60°, 30°, 90° glass prism of
critical angle 42°. Copy the diagram and complete the path of
incident ray AB emerging out of the prism marking the angle of
incidence on each surface.
8. Draw a labelled diagram to show the path of a monochromatic
ray of light in a prism kept at its angle of minimum deviation.
9. Calculate the refractive index of a liquid with respect to air
applying Snell's law (use
geometric
construction).
10. Copy the diagram given below and complete the path of light
ray till it emerges out of the prism. The critical angle of glass is
42°. In your diagram mark the angles wherever necessary.

5
11. The speed of light in glass is 2 x 10 km/s. What is the
refractive index of glass?
 3 MARKS
1. A diver in water looks obliquely at an object AB in air.

(A) Does the object

appear taller, shorter
or of the same size to
the diver?

(B) Show the path of two rays AC & AD starting from the tip of the
object as it travels towards the diver in water and hence obtain
the image of the object.
2. How does the angle of deviation formed by a prism change with
the increase in the angle of incidence?

Draw a graph showing the variation in the angle of deviation with

the angle of incidence at a prism surface.

3. A ray of light XY passes through a right angled isosceles prism

as shown below.

(A) What is the angle

through which the
incident ray deviates
and emerges out of
the prism?

(B) Name the

instrument where
this action of prism is
put into use.

(C) Which prism surface will behave as a mirror.

4. (A) A coin kept inside water [ = 4/3] when viewed from air in a
vertical direction appears to be raised by 3.0 mm. Find the depth
of the coin in water.

(b) How is the critical angle related to the refractive index of a

medium?
5. (A) Write a relationship between angle of incidence and angle
of refraction for a given pair of media.

(B) When a ray of light enters from one medium to another having
different optical densities it bends. Why does this phenomenon
occur?

(C) Write one condition where it does not bend when entering a
medium of different optical density.
6. When a ray of monochromatic green light enters a liquid from
air as shown in the figure given:

The angle 1 is 45° and angle 2

is 30,

(A) Determine the refractive

index of the liquid.

(B) Represent the path of

light ofter reflection.
7. The diagram below shows the ray OP travelling through an
equilateral prism of a certain material.

(A) Calculate the value of

i2 if the angle of deviation
is 43°.

(B) What is the ray QS

called?

4 MARKS
1. Jatin puts a pencil into a glass container having water and is
surprised to see the pencil in a different state.

(A) What change is observed in the appearance of the pencil?

(B) Name the phenomenon responsible for the change.

(C) Draw a ray diagram showing how the eye sees the pencil.
2. The diagram below shows two parallel rays A (Orange) and B
(Blue) incident from air, on air-glass boundary.

(A) Copy and complete the

path of the rays A and B.

(B) How do the speeds of

these rays differ in glass?

(C) Are the two refracted rays

in glass parallel? Give a reason.
3. The diagram below shows a ray of light travelling from air into
a glass material as shown below. Answer the questions that
follow:

(A) The angle of

incidence at the surface
AB is:
(α) 43O
(b) 47 O
(c) 90 O
(d) 0O

(B) Select a correct statement from the following:

(a) The speed of light at the curved surface AD does not change
while entering the block.
(b) The ray at the surface AD is not travelling along the radius of
the curved part.
(c) The ray at the surface AD is travelling along the radius of the
curved part.
(d) Light never refracts when it enters a curved surface.

(C) The angle of incidence on the surface BC is:

(α) 43O
(b) 47 O
(c) 90 O
(d) 0O

(D) The critical angle of this material of glass is:

(a) 47 O
(b) 43 O
(c) 42 O
(d) 45 O

4. The diagram shows the path of light through a right-angled

prism of critical angle 42°.
Observe the diagram and answer the questions that follow:

(A) The phenomenon at the surface AC is:

(a) refraction.
(b) partial reflection.
(c) total internal reflection.
(d) scattering.

(B) The angle of incidence at the

surface AC is:
(a) 30°
(b) 45
(c) 60°
(d) 90°
(C) The angle of incidence at the surface AB is:
(a) 30°
(b) 45°
(c) 60°
(d) 90°

(D) Which of the following statement is wrong?

(a) Speed of light ray PQ is equal to the speed of light ray ST.
(b) Speed of light ray QR is equal to the speed of light ray RS.
(c) Speed of light ray PQ is greater than the speed of light ray RS.
(d) Speed of light ray RQ is greater than the speed of light ray ST.

5. The diagram shows the path

of light through a right angled
prism of critical angle 42°
Observe the diagram and
answer the questions that
follow:

(A) The phenomenon at the

surface AB is:
(a) refraction
(b) reflection
(c) scattering
(d) total internal reflection

(B) The angle of incidence at surface BC:

(a) 90O
(b) 60O
(c) 45O
(d) 0O

(C) Which surface will appear shiny?

(a) BC
(b) AB
(c) AC
(d) None of them will appear shiny

(D) How much light energy (approx) is reflected back in total

internal reflection?
(α) 50%
(b) 70%
(c) 90%
(d) 100%