Chapter Nine

RAY OPTICS
AND OPTICAL
INSTRUMENTS

9.1 INTRODUCTION
Nature has endowed the human eye (retina) with the sensitivity to detect
electromagnetic waves within a small range of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Electromagnetic radiation belonging to this region of the
spectrum (wavelength of about 400 nm to 750 nm) is called light. It is
mainly through light and the sense of vision that we know and interpret
the world around us.
There are two things that we can intuitively mention about light from
common experience. First, that it travels with enormous speed and second,
that it travels in a straight line. It took some time for people to realise that
the speed of light is finite and measurable. Its presently accepted value
in vacuum is c = 2.99792458 × 108 m s–1. For many purposes, it suffices
to take c = 3 × 108 m s–1. The speed of light in vacuum is the highest
speed attainable in nature.
The intuitive notion that light travels in a straight line seems to
contradict what we have learnt in Chapter 8, that light is an
electromagnetic wave of wavelength belonging to the visible part of the
spectrum. How to reconcile the two facts? The answer is that the
wavelength of light is very small compared to the size of ordinary objects
that we encounter commonly (generally of the order of a few cm or larger).
In this situation, as you will learn in Chapter 10, a light wave can be
considered to travel from one point to another, along a straight line joining
 Physics
them. The path is called a ray of light, and a bundle of such rays
constitutes a beam of light.
In this chapter, we consider the phenomena of reflection, refraction
and dispersion of light, using the ray picture of light. Using the basic
laws of reflection and refraction, we shall study the image formation by
plane and spherical reflecting and refracting surfaces. We then go on to
describe the construction and working of some important optical
instruments, including the human eye.

PARTICLE MODEL OF LIGHT

Newton’s fundamental contributions to mathematics, mechanics, and gravitation often blind

us to his deep experimental and theoretical study of light. He made pioneering contributions
in the field of optics. He further developed the corpuscular model of light proposed by
Descartes. It presumes that light energy is concentrated in tiny particles called corpuscles.
He further assumed that corpuscles of light were massless elastic particles. With his
understanding of mechanics, he could come up with a simple model of reflection and
refraction. It is a common observation that a ball bouncing from a smooth plane surface
obeys the laws of reflection. When this is an elastic collision, the magnitude of the velocity
remains the same. As the surface is smooth, there is no force acting parallel to the surface,
so the component of momentum in this direction also remains the same. Only the component
perpendicular to the surface, i.e., the normal component of the momentum, gets reversed
in reflection. Newton argued that smooth surfaces like mirrors reflect the corpuscles in a
similar manner.
In order to explain the phenomena of refraction, Newton postulated that the speed of
the corpuscles was greater in water or glass than in air. However, later on it was discovered
that the speed of light is less in water or glass than in air.
In the field of optics, Newton – the experimenter, was greater than Newton – the theorist.
He himself observed many phenomena, which were difficult to understand in terms of
particle nature of light. For example, the colours observed due to a thin film of oil on water.
Property of partial reflection of light is yet another such example. Everyone who has looked
into the water in a pond sees image of the face in it, but also sees the bottom of the pond.
Newton argued that some of the corpuscles, which fall on the water, get reflected and some
get transmitted. But what property could distinguish these two kinds of corpuscles? Newton
had to postulate some kind of unpredictable, chance phenomenon, which decided whether
an individual corpuscle would be reflected or not. In explaining other phenomena, however,
the corpuscles were presumed to behave as if they are identical. Such a dilemma does not
occur in the wave picture of light. An incoming wave can be divided into two weaker waves
at the boundary between air and water.

9.2 REFLECTION OF LIGHT BY SPHERICAL MIRRORS

We are familiar with the laws of reflection. The angle of reflection (i.e., the
angle between reflected ray and the normal to the reflecting surface or
the mirror) equals the angle of incidence (angle between incident ray and
the normal). Also that the incident ray, reflected ray and the normal to
the reflecting surface at the point of incidence lie in the same plane
(Fig. 9.1). These laws are valid at each point on any reflecting surface
whether plane or curved. However, we shall restrict our discussion to the
310 special case of curved surfaces, that is, spherical surfaces. The normal in
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
this case is to be taken as normal to the tangent
to surface at the point of incidence. That is, the
normal is along the radius, the line joining the
centre of curvature of the mirror to the point of
incidence.
We have already studied that the geometric
centre of a spherical mirror is called its pole while
that of a spherical lens is called its optical centre.
The line joining the pole and the centre of curvature
of the spherical mirror is known as the principal
axis. In the case of spherical lenses, the principal FIGURE 9.1 The incident ray, reflected ray
axis is the line joining the optical centre with its and the normal to the reflecting surface lie
principal focus as you will see later. in the same plane.

9.2.1 Sign convention

To derive the relevant formulae for reflection by spherical mirrors and
refraction by spherical lenses, we must first adopt a sign convention for
measuring distances. In this book, we shall follow the Cartesian sign
convention. According to this
convention, all distances are measured
from the pole of the mirror or the optical
centre of the lens. The distances
measured in the same direction as the
incident light are taken as positive and
those measured in the direction
opposite to the direction of incident
light are taken as negative (Fig. 9.2).
The heights measured upwards with
respect to x-axis and normal to the
principal axis (x-axis) of the mirror/
lens are taken as positive (Fig. 9.2). The
heights measured downwards are FIGURE 9.2 The Cartesian Sign Convention.
taken as negative.
With a common accepted convention, it turns out that a single formula
for spherical mirrors and a single formula for spherical lenses can handle
all different cases.

9.2.2 Focal length of spherical mirrors

Figure 9.3 shows what happens when a parallel beam of light is incident
on (a) a concave mirror, and (b) a convex mirror. We assume that the rays
are paraxial, i.e., they are incident at points close to the pole P of the mirror
and make small angles with the principal axis. The reflected rays converge
at a point F on the principal axis of a concave mirror [Fig. 9.3(a)].
For a convex mirror, the reflected rays appear to diverge from a point F
on its principal axis [Fig. 9.3(b)]. The point F is called the principal focus
of the mirror. If the parallel paraxial beam of light were incident, making
some angle with the principal axis, the reflected rays would converge (or
appear to diverge) from a point in a plane through F normal to the principal
axis. This is called the focal plane of the mirror [Fig. 9.3(c)]. 311
 Physics

FIGURE 9.3 Focus of a concave and convex mirror.

The distance between the focus F and the pole P of the mirror is called
the focal length of the mirror, denoted by f. We now show that f = R/2,
where R is the radius of curvature of the mirror. The geometry
of reflection of an incident ray is shown in Fig. 9.4.
Let C be the centre of curvature of the mirror. Consider a
ray parallel to the principal axis striking the mirror at M. Then
CM will be perpendicular to the mirror at M. Let θ be the angle
of incidence, and MD be the perpendicular from M on the
principal axis. Then,
∠MCP = θ and ∠MFP = 2θ
Now,
MD MD
tanθ = and tan 2θ = (9.1)
CD FD
For small θ, which is true for paraxial rays, tanθ ≈ θ,
tan 2θ ≈ 2θ. Therefore, Eq. (9.1) gives
MD MD
=2
FD CD
CD
or, FD = (9.2)
2
FIGURE 9.4 Geometry of
Now, for small θ, the point D is very close to the point P.
reflection of an incident ray on
(a) concave spherical mirror, Therefore, FD = f and CD = R. Equation (9.2) then gives
and (b) convex spherical mirror. f = R/2 (9.3)

9.2.3 The mirror equation

If rays emanating from a point actually meet at another point after
reflection and/or refraction, that point is called the image of the first
312 point. The image is real if the rays actually converge to the point; it is
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
virtual if the rays do not actually meet but appear
to diverge from the point when produced
backwards. An image is thus a point-to-point
correspondence with the object established
through reflection and/or refraction.
In principle, we can take any two rays
emanating from a point on an object, trace their
paths, find their point of intersection and thus,
obtain the image of the point due to reflection at a
spherical mirror. In practice, however, it is
convenient to choose any two of the following rays:
(i) The ray from the point which is parallel to the
principal axis. The reflected ray goes through
FIGURE 9.5 Ray diagram for image
the focus of the mirror.
formation by a concave mirror.
(ii) The ray passing through the centre of
curvature of a concave mirror or appearing to pass through it for a
convex mirror. The reflected ray simply retraces the path.
(iii) The ray passing through (or directed towards) the focus of the concave
mirror or appearing to pass through (or directed towards) the focus
of a convex mirror. The reflected ray is parallel to the principal axis.
(iv) The ray incident at any angle at the pole. The reflected ray follows
laws of reflection.
Figure 9.5 shows the ray diagram considering three rays. It shows
the image A′B′ (in this case, real) of an object A B formed by a concave
mirror. It does not mean that only three rays emanate from the point A.
An infinite number of rays emanate from any source, in all directions.
Thus, point A′ is image point of A if every ray originating at point A and
falling on the concave mirror after reflection passes through the point A′.
We now derive the mirror equation or the relation between the object
distance (u), image distance (v) and the focal length ( f ).
From Fig. 9.5, the two right-angled triangles A′B′F and MPF are
similar. (For paraxial rays, MP can be considered to be a straight line
perpendicular to CP.) Therefore,
B ′ A ′ B ′F
=
PM FP
B ′ A ′ B ′F
or = (∵ PM = AB) (9.4)
BA FP
Since ∠ APB = ∠ A′PB′, the right angled triangles A′B′P and ABP are
also similar. Therefore,
B ′A ′ B ′ P
= (9.5)
B A BP
Comparing Eqs. (9.4) and (9.5), we get
B ′F B ′P – FP B ′P
= = (9.6)
FP FP BP
Equation (9.6) is a relation involving magnitude of distances. We now
apply the sign convention. We note that light travels from the object to
the mirror MPN. Hence this is taken as the positive direction. To reach 313
 Physics
the object AB, image A′B′ as well as the focus F from the pole P, we have
to travel opposite to the direction of incident light. Hence, all the three
will have negative signs. Thus,
B′ P = –v, FP = –f, BP = –u
Using these in Eq. (9.6), we get
–v + f –v
=
–f –u
v– f v
or =
f u
1 1 1
+ = (9.7)
v u f
This relation is known as the mirror equation.
The size of the image relative to the size of the object is another
important quantity to consider. We define linear magnification (m) as the
ratio of the height of the image (h′) to the height of the object (h):
h′
m= (9.8)
h
h and h′ will be taken positive or negative in accordance with the accepted
sign convention. In triangles A′B′P and ABP, we have,
B ′A ′ B ′P
=
BA BP
With the sign convention, this becomes
– h′ –v
=
h –u
so that
h′ v
m= = – (9.9)
h u
We have derived here the mirror equation, Eq. (9.7), and the
magnification formula, Eq. (9.9), for the case of real, inverted image formed
by a concave mirror. With the proper use of sign convention, these are,
in fact, valid for all the cases of reflection by a spherical mirror (concave
or convex) whether the image formed is real or virtual. Figure 9.6 shows
the ray diagrams for virtual image formed by a concave and convex mirror.
You should verify that Eqs. (9.7) and (9.9) are valid for these cases
as well.

FIGURE 9.6 Image formation by (a) a concave mirror with object between
314 P and F, and (b) a convex mirror.
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments

Example 9.1 Suppose that the lower half of the concave mirror’s
reflecting surface in Fig. 9.5 is covered with an opaque (non-reflective)
material. What effect will this have on the image of an object placed
in front of the mirror?

EXAMPLE 9.1
Solution You may think that the image will now show only half of the
object, but taking the laws of reflection to be true for all points of the
remaining part of the mirror, the image will be that of the whole object.
However, as the area of the reflecting surface has been reduced, the
intensity of the image will be low (in this case, half).

Example 9.2 A mobile phone lies along the principal axis of a concave
mirror, as shown in Fig. 9.7. Show by suitable diagram, the formation
of its image. Explain why the magnification is not uniform. Will the
distortion of image depend on the location of the phone with respect
to the mirror?

FIGURE 9.7
EXAMPLE 9.2

Solution
The ray diagram for the formation of the image of the phone is shown
in Fig. 9.7. The image of the part which is on the plane perpendicular
to principal axis will be on the same plane. It will be of the same size,
i.e., B′C = BC. You can yourself realise why the image is distorted.

Example 9.3 An object is placed at (i) 10 cm, (ii) 5 cm in front of a

concave mirror of radius of curvature 15 cm. Find the position, nature,
and magnification of the image in each case.
Solution
The focal length f = –15/2 cm = –7.5 cm
(i) The object distance u = –10 cm. Then Eq. (9.7) gives
1 1 1
+ =
v – 10 – 7. 5

10 × 7.5
or v= = – 30 cm
−2 .5
EXAMPLE 9.3

The image is 30 cm from the mirror on the same side as the object.
v ( −30)
Also, magnification m = – =– =–3
u ( −10)
The image is magnified, real and inverted.
315
 Physics
(ii) The object distance u = –5 cm. Then from Eq. (9.7),
1 1 1
+ =
v −5 −7.5
5 × 7 .5
or v= = 15 cm
(7.5 – 5)
EXAMPLE 9.3

This image is formed at 15 cm behind the mirror. It is a virtual image.

v 15
Magnification m = – =– =3
u ( −5)
The image is magnified, virtual and erect.

Example 9.4 Suppose while sitting in a parked car, you notice a

jogger approaching towards you in the side view mirror of R = 2 m. If
the jogger is running at a speed of 5 m s–1, how fast the image of the
jogger appear to move when the jogger is (a) 39 m, (b) 29 m, (c) 19 m,
and (d) 9 m away.
Solution
From the mirror equation, Eq. (9.7), we get
fu
v=
u− f
For convex mirror, since R = 2 m, f = 1 m. Then
( −39) × 1 39
for u = –39 m, v = = m
−39 − 1 40
Since the jogger moves at a constant speed of 5 m s–1, after 1 s the
position of the image v (for u = –39 + 5 = –34) is (34/35 )m.
The shift in the position of image in 1 s is
39 34 1365 − 1360 5 1
− = = = m
40 35 1400 1400 280
Therefore, the average speed of the image when the jogger is between
39 m and 34 m from the mirror, is (1/280) m s–1
Similarly, it can be seen that for u = –29 m, –19 m and –9 m, the
speed with which the image appears to move is
1 1 1
m s –1 , m s –1 and m s –1 , respectively.
150 60 10
Although the jogger has been moving with a constant speed, the speed
EXAMPLE 9.4

of his/her image appears to increase substantially as he/she moves

closer to the mirror. This phenomenon can be noticed by any person
sitting in a stationary car or a bus. In case of moving vehicles, a
similar phenomenon could be observed if the vehicle in the rear is
moving closer with a constant speed.

9.3 REFRACTION
When a beam of light encounters another transparent medium, a part of
light gets reflected back into the first medium while the rest enters the
other. A ray of light represents a beam. The direction of propagation of
316 an obliquely incident ray of light that enters the other medium, changes
 Ray Optics and
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at the interface of the two media. This
phenomenon is called refraction of light. Snell
experimentally obtained the following laws of
refraction:
(i) The incident ray, the refracted ray and the
normal to the interface at the point of
incidence, all lie in the same plane.
(ii) The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence
to the sine of angle of refraction is constant.
Remember that the angles of incidence (i ) and
refraction (r ) are the angles that the incident
and its refracted ray make with the normal,
respectively. We have
sin i
= n 21 (9.10) FIGURE 9.8 Refraction and reflection of light.
sin r
where n 21 is a constant, called the refractive index of the second medium
with respect to the first medium. Equation (9.10) is the well-known Snell’s
law of refraction. We note that n 21 is a characteristic of the pair of media
(and also depends on the wavelength of light), but is independent of the
angle of incidence.
From Eq. (9.10), if n 21 > 1, r < i , i.e., the refracted ray bends towards
the normal. In such a case medium 2 is said to be optically denser (or
denser, in short) than medium 1. On the other hand, if n 21 <1, r > i, the
refracted ray bends away from the normal. This is the case when incident
ray in a denser medium refracts into a rarer medium.
Note: Optical density should not be confused with mass density,
which is mass per unit volume. It is possible that mass density of
an optically denser medium may be less than that of an optically
rarer medium (optical density is the ratio of the speed of light in
two media). For example, turpentine and water. Mass density of
turpentine is less than that of water but its optical density is higher.
If n 21 is the refractive index of medium 2
with respect to medium 1 and n12 the refractive
index of medium 1 with respect to medium 2,
then it should be clear that
1
n12 = (9.11)
n 21
It also follows that if n 32 is the refractive
index of medium 3 with respect to medium 2
then n 32 = n 31 × n 12, where n 31 is the refractive
index of medium 3 with respect to medium 1.
Some elementary results based on the laws FIGURE 9.9 Lateral shift of a ray refracted
of refraction follow immediately. For a through a parallel-sided slab.
rectangular slab, refraction takes place at two
interfaces (air-glass and glass-air). It is easily seen from Fig. 9.9 that
r2 = i1, i.e., the emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray—there is no 317
 Physics
deviation, but it does suffer lateral displacement/
shift with respect to the incident ray. Another familiar
observation is that the bottom of a tank filled with
water appears to be raised (Fig. 9.10). For viewing
near the normal direction, it can be shown that the
apparent depth, (h1) is real depth (h 2) divided by
the refractive index of the medium (water).
The refraction of light through the atmosphere
is responsible for many interesting phenomena. For
example, the sun is visible a little before the actual
sunrise and until a little after the actual sunset
due to refraction of light through the atmosphere
(Fig. 9.11). By actual sunrise we mean the actual
crossing of the horizon by the sun. Figure 9.11
shows the actual and apparent positions of the sun
with respect to the horizon. The figure is highly
exaggerated to show the effect. The refractive index
of air with respect to vacuum is 1.00029. Due to
this, the apparent shift in the direction of the sun
is by about half a degree and the corresponding
FIGURE 9.10 Apparent depth for time difference between actual sunset and apparent
(a) normal, and (b) oblique viewing. sunset is about 2 minutes (see Example 9.5). The
apparent flattening (oval shape) of the sun at sunset
and sunrise is also due to the same phenomenon.

FIGURE 9.11 Advance sunrise and delayed sunset due to

atmospheric refraction.

Example 9.5 The earth takes 24 h to rotate once about its axis. How
much time does the sun take to shift by 1º when viewed from
EXAMPLE 9.5

the earth?
Solution
Time taken for 360° shift = 24 h
Time taken for 1° shift = 24/360 h = 4 min.
318
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments

THE DROWNING CHILD, LIFEGUARD AND SNELL’S LAW

Consider a rectangular swimming pool PQSR; see figure here. A lifeguard sitting at G
outside the pool notices a child drowning at a point C. The guard wants to reach the
child in the shortest possible time. Let SR be the
side of the pool between G and C. Should he/she
take a straight line path GAC between G and C or
GBC in which the path BC in water would be the
shortest, or some other path GXC? The guard knows
that his/her running speed v1 on ground is higher
than his/her swimming speed v2.
Suppose the guard enters water at X. Let GX =l1
and XC =l 2. Then the time taken to reach from G to
C would be
l1 l 2
t = +
v1 v 2
To make this time minimum, one has to
differentiate it (with respect to the coordinate of X ) and find the point X when t is a
minimum. On doing all this algebra (which we skip here), we find that the guard should
enter water at a point where Snell’s law is satisfied. To understand this, draw a
perpendicular LM to side SR at X. Let ∠GXM = i and ∠CXL = r. Then it can be seen that t
is minimum when
sin i v1
=
sin r v 2
In the case of light v1/v2, the ratio of the velocity of light in vacuum to that in the
medium, is the refractive index n of the medium.
In short, whether it is a wave or a particle or a human being, whenever two mediums
and two velocities are involved, one must follow Snell’s law if one wants to take the
shortest time.

9.4 TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION

When light travels from an optically denser medium to a rarer medium
at the interface, it is partly reflected back into the same medium and
partly refracted to the second medium. This reflection is called the internal
reflection.
When a ray of light enters from a denser medium to a rarer medium,
it bends away from the normal, for example, the ray AO1 B in Fig. 9.12.
The incident ray AO1 is partially reflected (O1C) and partially transmitted
(O1B) or refracted, the angle of refraction (r ) being larger than the angle of
incidence (i ). As the angle of incidence increases, so does the angle of
refraction, till for the ray AO3, the angle of refraction is π/2. The refracted
ray is bent so much away from the normal that it grazes the surface at
the interface between the two media. This is shown by the ray AO3 D in
Fig. 9.12. If the angle of incidence is increased still further (e.g., the ray
AO4), refraction is not possible, and the incident ray is totally reflected. 319
 Physics
This is called total internal reflection. When
light gets reflected by a surface, normally
some fraction of it gets transmitted. The
reflected ray, therefore, is always less intense
than the incident ray, howsoever smooth the
reflecting surface may be. In total internal
reflection, on the other hand, no
transmission of light takes place.
The angle of incidence corresponding to
an angle of refraction 90º, say ∠AO3N, is
called the critical angle (ic ) for the given pair
FIGURE 9.12 Refraction and internal reflection of media. We see from Snell’s law [Eq. (9.10)]
of rays from a point A in the denser medium that if the relative refractive index is less
(water) incident at different angles at the interface than one then, since the maximum value
with a rarer medium (air). of sin r is unity, there is an upper limit
to the value of sin i for which the law can be satisfied, that is, i = ic
such that
sin ic = n 21 (9.12)
For values of i larger than ic, Snell’s law of refraction cannot be
satisfied, and hence no refraction is possible.
The refractive index of denser medium 2 with respect to rarer medium
1 will be n12 = 1/sin ic. Some typical critical angles are listed in Table 9.1.

TABLE 9.1 CRITICAL ANGLE OF SOME TRANSPARENT MEDIA

Substance medium Refractive index Critical angle

Water 1.33 48.75°

Crown glass 1.52 41.14°
Dense flint glass 1.62 37.31°
Diamond 2.42 24.41°

A demonstration for total internal reflection

All optical phenomena can be demonstrated very easily with the use of a
laser torch or pointer, which is easily available nowadays. Take a glass
beaker with clear water in it. Stir the water a few times with a piece of
soap, so that it becomes a little turbid. Take a laser pointer and shine its
beam through the turbid water. You will find that the path of the beam
inside the water shines brightly.
Shine the beam from below the beaker such that it strikes at the
upper water surface at the other end. Do you find that it undergoes partial
reflection (which is seen as a spot on the table below) and partial refraction
[which comes out in the air and is seen as a spot on the roof; Fig. 9.13(a)]?
Now direct the laser beam from one side of the beaker such that it strikes
the upper surface of water more obliquely [Fig. 9.13(b)]. Adjust the
320 direction of laser beam until you find the angle for which the refraction
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
above the water surface is totally absent and the beam is totally reflected
back to water. This is total internal reflection at its simplest.
Pour this water in a long test tube and shine the laser light from top,
as shown in Fig. 9.13(c). Adjust the direction of the laser beam such that
it is totally internally reflected every time it strikes the walls of the tube.
This is similar to what happens in optical fibres.
Take care not to look into the laser beam directly and not to point it
at anybody’s face.

9.4.1 Total internal reflection in nature and

its technological applications
(i) Mirage: On hot summer days, the air near the ground becomes hotter
than the air at higher levels. The refractive index of air increases with
its density. Hotter air is less dense, and has smaller refractive index
than the cooler air. If the air currents are small, that is, the air is still,
the optical density at different layers of air increases with height. As a
result, light from a tall object such as a tree, passes through a medium
whose refractive index decreases towards the ground. Thus, a ray of
light from such an object successively bends away from the normal
and undergoes total internal reflection, if the angle of incidence for
the air near the ground exceeds the critical angle. This is shown in
Fig. 9.14(b). To a distant observer, the light appears to be coming FIGURE 9.13
from somewhere below the ground. The observer naturally assumes Observing total
that light is being reflected from the ground, say, by a pool of water internal reflection in
near the tall object. Such inverted images of distant tall objects cause water with a laser
an optical illusion to the observer. This phenomenon is called mirage. beam (refraction due
This type of mirage is especially common in hot deserts. Some of you to glass of beaker
might have noticed that while moving in a bus or a car during a hot neglected being very
summer day, a distant patch of road, especially on a highway, appears thin).
to be wet. But, you do not find any evidence of wetness when you
reach that spot. This is also due to mirage.

FIGURE 9.14 (a) A tree is seen by an observer at its place when the air above the ground is
at uniform temperature, (b) When the layers of air close to the ground have varying
temperature with hottest layers near the ground, light from a distant tree may
undergo total internal reflection, and the apparent image of the tree may create
an illusion to the observer that the tree is near a pool of water. 321
 Physics
(ii) Diamond : Diamonds are known for their
spectacular brilliance. Their brilliance
is mainly due to the total internal
reflection of light inside them. The critical
angle for diamond-air interface (≅ 24.4°)
is very small, therefore once light enters
a diamond, it is very likely to undergo
total internal reflection inside it.
Diamonds found in nature rarely exhibit
the brilliance for which they are known.
It is the technical skill of a diamond
cutter which makes diamonds to
sparkle so brilliantly. By cutting the
diamond suitably, multiple total
internal reflections can be made
to occur.
(iii) Prism : Prisms designed to bend light by
FIGURE 9.15 Prisms designed to bend rays by 90º or by 180º make use of total internal
90º and 180º or to invert image without changing reflection [Fig. 9.15(a) and (b)]. Such a
its size make use of total internal reflection. prism is also used to invert images
without changing their size [Fig. 9.15(c)].
In the first two cases, the critical angle ic for the material of the prism
must be less than 45º. We see from Table 9.1 that this is true for both
crown glass and dense flint glass.
(iv) Optical fibres: Now-a-days optical fibres are extensively used for
transmitting audio and video signals through long distances. Optical
fibres too make use of the phenomenon of total internal reflection.
Optical fibres are fabricated with high quality composite glass/quartz
fibres. Each fibre consists of a core and cladding. The refractive index
of the material of the core is higher than that of the cladding.
When a signal in the form of light is
directed at one end of the fibre at a suitable
angle, it undergoes repeated total internal
reflections along the length of the fibre and
finally comes out at the other end (Fig. 9.16).
Since light undergoes total internal reflection
at each stage, there is no appreciable loss in
the intensity of the light signal. Optical fibres
FIGURE 9.16 Light undergoes successive total are fabricated such that light reflected at one
internal reflections as it moves through an side of inner surface strikes the other at an
optical fibre.
angle larger than the critical angle. Even if the
fibre is bent, light can easily travel along its
length. Thus, an optical fibre can be used to act as an optical pipe.
A bundle of optical fibres can be put to several uses. Optical fibres
are extensively used for transmitting and receiving electrical signals which
are converted to light by suitable transducers. Obviously, optical fibres
can also be used for transmission of optical signals. For example, these
are used as a ‘light pipe’ to facilitate visual examination of internal organs
322 like esophagus, stomach and intestines. You might have seen a commonly
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
available decorative lamp with fine plastic fibres with their free ends
forming a fountain like structure. The other end of the fibres is fixed over
an electric lamp. When the lamp is switched on, the light travels from the
bottom of each fibre and appears at the tip of its free end as a dot of light.
The fibres in such decorative lamps are optical fibres.
The main requirement in fabricating optical fibres is that there should
be very little absorption of light as it travels for long distances inside
them. This has been achieved by purification and special preparation of
materials such as quartz. In silica glass fibres, it is possible to transmit
more than 95% of the light over a fibre length of 1 km. (Compare with
what you expect for a block of ordinary window glass 1 km thick.)

9.5 REFRACTION AT SPHERICAL SURFACES

AND BY LENSES
We have so far considered refraction at a plane interface. We shall now
consider refraction at a spherical interface between two transparent media.
An infinitesimal part of a spherical surface can be regarded as planar
and the same laws of refraction can be applied at every point on the
surface. Just as for reflection by a spherical mirror, the normal at the
point of incidence is perpendicular to the tangent plane to the spherical
surface at that point and, therefore, passes through its centre of curvature.
We first consider refraction by a single spherical surface and follow it by
thin lenses. A thin lens is a transparent optical medium bounded by two
surfaces; at least one of which should be spherical. Applying the formula
for image formation by a single spherical surface successively at the two
surfaces of a lens, we shall obtain the lens maker’s formula and then the
lens formula.

9.5.1 Refraction at a spherical surface

Figure 9.17 shows the geometry of formation of image I of an object O on
the principal axis of a spherical surface with centre of curvature C, and
radius of curvature R. The rays are incident from a medium of refractive
index n1, to another of refractive index n 2. As before, we take the aperture
(or the lateral size) of the surface to be small
compared to other distances involved, so that small
angle approximation can be made. In particular,
NM will be taken to be nearly equal to the length of
the perpendicular from the point N on the principal
axis. We have, for small angles,
MN
tan ∠NOM =
OM

MN
tan ∠NCM =
MC
FIGURE 9.17 Refraction at a spherical
surface separating two media.
MN
tan ∠NIM = 323
MI
 Physics
LIGHT SOURCES AND PHOTOMETRY

It is known that a body above absolute zero temperature emits electromagnetic radiation.
The wavelength region in which the body emits the radiation depends on its absolute
temperature. Radiation emitted by a hot body, for example, a tungsten filament lamp
having temperature 2850 K are partly invisible and mostly in infrared (or heat) region.
As the temperature of the body increases radiation emitted by it is in visible region. The
sun with temperature of about 5500 K emits radiation whose energy versus wavelength
graph peaks approximately at 550 nm corresponding to green light and is almost in the
middle of the visible region. The energy versus wavelength distribution graph for a given
body peaks at some wavelength, which is inversely proportional to the absolute
temperature of that body.
The measurement of light as perceived by human eye is called photometry. Photometry
is measurement of a physiological phenomenon, being the stimulus of light as received
by the human eye, transmitted by the optic nerves and analysed by the brain. The main
physical quantities in photometry are (i) the luminous intensity of the source,
(ii) the luminous flux or flow of light from the source, and (iii) illuminance of the surface.
The SI unit of luminous intensity (I ) is candela (cd). The candela is the luminous intensity,
in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency
540 × 1012 Hz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.
If a light source emits one candela of luminous intensity into a solid angle of one steradian,
the total luminous flux emitted into that solid angle is one lumen (lm). A standard
100 watt incadescent light bulb emits approximately 1700 lumens.
In photometry, the only parameter, which can be measured directly is illuminance. It
is defined as luminous flux incident per unit area on a surface (lm/m2 or lux ). Most light
meters measure this quantity. The illuminance E, produced by a source of luminous
intensity I, is given by E = I/r2, where r is the normal distance of the surface from the
source. A quantity named luminance (L), is used to characterise the brightness of emitting
or reflecting flat surfaces. Its unit is cd/m2 (sometimes called ‘nit’ in industry) . A good
LCD computer monitor has a brightness of about 250 nits.

Now, for ΔNOC, i is the exterior angle. Therefore, i = ∠NOM + ∠NCM

MN MN
i= + (9.13)
OM MC
Similarly,
r = ∠NCM – ∠NIM

MN MN
i.e., r = − (9.14)
MC MI
Now, by Snell’s law
n1 sin i = n 2 sin r
or for small angles
324 n1i = n 2r
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
Substituting i and r from Eqs. (9.13) and (9.14), we get
n1 n2 n 2 − n1
+ = (9.15)
OM MI MC
Here, OM, MI and MC represent magnitudes of distances. Applying the
Cartesian sign convention,
OM = –u, MI = +v, MC = +R
Substituting these in Eq. (9.15), we get
n 2 n1 n 2 − n1
− = (9.16)
v u R
Equation (9.16) gives us a relation between object and image distance
in terms of refractive index of the medium and the radius of
curvature of the curved spherical surface. It holds for any curved
spherical surface.

Example 9.6 Light from a point source in air falls on a spherical

glass surface (n = 1.5 and radius of curvature = 20 cm). The distance
of the light source from the glass surface is 100 cm. At what position
the image is formed?
Solution
We use the relation given by Eq. (9.16). Here
u = – 100 cm, v = ?, R = + 20 cm, n1 = 1, and n 2 = 1.5.
We then have
1.5 1 0.5 E XAMPLE 9.6
+ =
v 100 20
or v = +100 cm
The image is formed at a distance of 100 cm from the glass surface,
in the direction of incident light.

9.5.2 Refraction by a lens

Figure 9.18(a) shows the geometry of image formation by a double convex
lens. The image formation can be seen in terms of two steps:
(i) The first refracting surface forms the image I1 of the object O
[Fig. 9.18(b)]. The image I1 acts as a virtual object for the second surface
that forms the image at I [Fig. 9.18(c)]. Applying Eq. (9.15) to the first
interface ABC, we get
n1 n 2 n 2 − n1
+ = (9.17)
OB BI1 BC1
A similar procedure applied to the second interface* ADC gives,
n 2 n1 n 2 − n 1
− + = (9.18)
DI1 DI DC2

* Note that now the refractive index of the medium on the right side of ADC is n1
while on its left it is n 2. Further DI1 is negative as the distance is measured
against the direction of incident light. 325
 Physics
For a thin lens, BI 1 = DI 1. Adding
Eqs. (9.17) and (9.18), we get
n1 n1 ⎛ 1 1 ⎞
+ = (n 2 − n1 ) ⎜ +
⎝ BC1 DC2 ⎟⎠
(9.19)
OB DI
Suppose the object is at infinity, i.e.,
OB → ∞ and DI = f, Eq. (9.19) gives
n1 ⎛ 1 1 ⎞
= (n 2 − n1 ) ⎜ +
⎝ BC1 DC2 ⎟⎠
(9.20)
f
The point where image of an object
placed at infinity is formed is called the
focus F, of the lens and the distance f gives
its focal length. A lens has two foci, F and
F′, on either side of it (Fig. 9.19). By the
sign convention,
BC1 = + R1,
DC2 = –R 2
So Eq. (9.20) can be written as

1 ⎛ 1 1 ⎞ ⎛ n2 ⎞
= (n 21 − 1) ⎜ − ⎜⎝∵ n 21 = n ⎟⎠
⎝ R1 R 2 ⎟⎠
f
(9.21)
1

Equation (9.21) is known as the lens

maker’s formula. It is useful to design
lenses of desired focal length using surfaces
of suitable radii of curvature. Note that the
formula is true for a concave lens also. In
that case R1is negative, R 2 positive and
FIGURE 9.18 (a) The position of object, and the therefore, f is negative.
image formed by a double convex lens, From Eqs. (9.19) and (9.20), we get
(b) Refraction at the first spherical surface and n1 n1 n
(c) Refraction at the second spherical surface. + = 1 (9.22)
OB DI f
Again, in the thin lens approximation, B and D are both close to the
optical centre of the lens. Applying the sign convention,
BO = – u, DI = +v, we get
1 1 1
− = (9.23)
v u f
Equation (9.23) is the familiar thin lens formula. Though we derived
it for a real image formed by a convex lens, the formula is valid for both
convex as well as concave lenses and for both real and virtual images.
It is worth mentioning that the two foci, F and F′, of a double convex
or concave lens are equidistant from the optical centre. The focus on the
side of the (original) source of light is called the first focal point, whereas
the other is called the second focal point.
To find the image of an object by a lens, we can, in principle, take any
326 two rays emanating from a point on an object; trace their paths using
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
the laws of refraction and find the point where
the refracted rays meet (or appear to meet). In
practice, however, it is convenient to choose any
two of the following rays:
(i) A ray emanating from the object parallel to
the principal axis of the lens after refraction
passes through the second principal focus
F′ (in a convex lens) or appears to diverge (in
a concave lens) from the first principal focus F.
(ii) A ray of light, passing through the optical
centre of the lens, emerges without any
deviation after refraction.
(iii) A ray of light passing through the first
principal focus (for a convex lens) or
appearing to meet at it (for a concave lens)
emerges parallel to the principal axis after
refraction.
Figures 9.19(a) and (b) illustrate these rules
for a convex and a concave lens, respectively.
You should practice drawing similar ray
diagrams for different positions of the object with
respect to the lens and also verify that the lens
FIGURE 9.19 Tracing rays through (a)
formula, Eq. (9.23), holds good for all cases.
convex lens (b) concave lens.
Here again it must be remembered that each
point on an object gives out infinite number of
rays. All these rays will pass through the same image point after refraction
at the lens.
Magnification (m) produced by a lens is defined, like that for a mirror,
as the ratio of the size of the image to that of the object. Proceeding in the
same way as for spherical mirrors, it is easily seen that for a lens
h′ v
m= = (9.24)
h u
When we apply the sign convention, we see that, for erect (and virtual)
image formed by a convex or concave lens, m is positive, while for an
inverted (and real) image, m is negative.

Example 9.7 A magician during a show makes a glass lens with

n = 1.47 disappear in a trough of liquid. What is the refractive index
of the liquid? Could the liquid be water?
E XAMPLE 9.7

Solution
The refractive index of the liquid must be equal to 1.47 in order to
make the lens disappear. This means n1 = n 2.. This gives 1/f = 0 or
f → ∞. The lens in the liquid will act like a plane sheet of glass. No,
the liquid is not water. It could be glycerine.

9.5.3 Power of a lens

Power of a lens is a measure of the convergence or divergence, which a
lens introduces in the light falling on it. Clearly, a lens of shorter focal 327
 Physics
length bends the incident light more, while converging it
in case of a convex lens and diverging it in case of a
concave lens. The power P of a lens is defined as the
tangent of the angle by which it converges or diverges a
beam of light falling at unit distant from the optical centre
(Fig. 9.20).
h 1 1
tan δ = ; if h = 1 tan δ = or δ = f for small
f f
value of δ. Thus,
FIGURE 9.20 Power of a lens.
1
P= (9.25)
f
The SI unit for power of a lens is dioptre (D): 1D = 1m–1. The power of
a lens of focal length of 1 metre is one dioptre. Power of a lens is positive
for a converging lens and negative for a diverging lens. Thus, when an
optician prescribes a corrective lens of power + 2.5 D, the required lens is
a convex lens of focal length + 40 cm. A lens of power of – 4.0 D means a
concave lens of focal length – 25 cm.

Example 9.8 (i) If f = 0.5 m for a glass lens, what is the power of the
lens? (ii) The radii of curvature of the faces of a double convex lens
are 10 cm and 15 cm. Its focal length is 12 cm. What is the refractive
index of glass? (iii) A convex lens has 20 cm focal length in air. What
is focal length in water? (Refractive index of air-water = 1.33, refractive
index for air-glass = 1.5.)
Solution
(i) Power = +2 dioptre.
(ii) Here, we have f = +12 cm, R1 = +10 cm, R2 = –15 cm.
Refractive index of air is taken as unity.
We use the lens formula of Eq. (9.22). The sign convention has to
be applied for f, R1 and R 2.
Substituting the values, we have
1 ⎛ 1 1 ⎞
= (n − 1) ⎜ − ⎟
12 ⎝ 10 −15 ⎠
This gives n = 1.5.
(iii) For a glass lens in air, n 2 = 1.5, n1 = 1, f = +20 cm. Hence, the lens
formula gives
1 ⎡1 1 ⎤
= 0.5 ⎢ − ⎥
20 ⎣ R1 R 2 ⎦
EXAMPLE 9.8

For the same glass lens in water, n 2 = 1.5, n1 = 1.33. Therefore,

1.33 ⎡1 1 ⎤
= (1.5 − 1.33) ⎢ − ⎥ (9.26)
f ⎣ R1 R 2 ⎦
Combining these two equations, we find f = + 78.2 cm.

9.5.4 Combination of thin lenses in contact

Consider two lenses A and B of focal length f1 and f2 placed in contact
328 with each other. Let the object be placed at a point O beyond the focus of
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
the first lens A (Fig. 9.21). The first lens produces
an image at I1. Since image I1 is real, it serves as a
virtual object for the second lens B, producing the
final image at I. It must, however, be borne in mind
that formation of image by the first lens is presumed
only to facilitate determination of the position of the
final image. In fact, the direction of rays emerging
from the first lens gets modified in accordance with FIGURE 9.21 Image formation by a
the angle at which they strike the second lens. Since combination of two thin lenses in contact.
the lenses are thin, we assume the optical centres of the lenses to be
coincident. Let this central point be denoted by P.
For the image formed by the first lens A, we get
1 1 1
− = (9.27)
v1 u f1
For the image formed by the second lens B, we get
1 1 1
− = (9.28)
v v1 f 2
Adding Eqs. (9.27) and (9.28), we get
1 1 1 1
− = + (9.29)
v u f1 f2
If the two lens-system is regarded as equivalent to a single lens of
focal length f, we have
1 1 1
− =
v u f
so that we get
1 1 1
= + (9.30)
f f1 f2
The derivation is valid for any number of thin lenses in contact. If
several thin lenses of focal length f1, f2, f3,... are in contact, the effective
focal length of their combination is given by
1 1 1 1
= + + +… (9.31)
f f1 f2 f3
In terms of power, Eq. (9.31) can be written as
P = P1 + P2 + P3 + … (9.32)
where P is the net power of the lens combination. Note that the sum in
Eq. (9.32) is an algebraic sum of individual powers, so some of the terms
on the right side may be positive (for convex lenses) and some negative
(for concave lenses). Combination of lenses helps to obtain diverging or
converging lenses of desired magnification. It also enhances sharpness
of the image. Since the image formed by the first lens becomes the object
for the second, Eq. (9.25) implies that the total magnification m of the
combination is a product of magnification (m1, m 2, m 3,...) of individual
lenses
m = m1 m 2 m 3 ... (9.33) 329
 Physics
Such a system of combination of lenses is commonly used in designing
lenses for cameras, microscopes, telescopes and other optical instruments.

Example 9.9 Find the position of the image formed by the lens
combination given in the Fig. 9.22.

FIGURE 9.22

Solution Image formed by the first lens

1 1 1
− =
v1 u1 f1

1 1 1
− =
v1 −30 10
or v1 = 15 cm
The image formed by the first lens serves as the object for the second.
This is at a distance of (15 – 5) cm = 10 cm to the right of the second
lens. Though the image is real, it serves as a virtual object for the
second lens, which means that the rays appear to come from it for
the second lens.
1 1 1
− =
v 2 10 −10
or v2 = ∞
The virtual image is formed at an infinite distance to the left of the
second lens. This acts as an object for the third lens.
1 1 1
− =
v3 u 3 f3
EXAMPLE 9.9

1 1 1
or = +
v 3 ∞ 30
or v3 = 30 cm
The final image is formed 30 cm to the right of the third lens.

9.6 REFRACTION THROUGH A PRISM

Figure 9.23 shows the passage of light through a triangular prism ABC.
The angles of incidence and refraction at the first face AB are i and r1,
while the angle of incidence (from glass to air) at the second face AC is r2
and the angle of refraction or emergence e. The angle between the
emergent ray RS and the direction of the incident ray PQ is called the
330 angle of deviation, δ.
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
In the quadrilateral AQNR, two of the angles
(at the vertices Q and R) are right angles.
Therefore, the sum of the other angles of the
quadrilateral is 180º.
∠A + ∠QNR = 180º
From the triangle QNR,
r1 + r2 + ∠QNR = 180º
Comparing these two equations, we get
r 1 + r2 = A (9.34)
The total deviation δ is the sum of deviations FIGURE 9.23 A ray of light passing through
at the two faces, a triangular glass prism.
δ = (i – r1 ) + (e – r2 )
that is,
δ =i+e–A (9.35)
Thus, the angle of deviation depends on the angle of incidence. A plot
between the angle of deviation and angle of incidence is shown in
Fig. 9.24. You can see that, in general, any given value of δ, except for
i = e, corresponds to two values i and hence of e. This, in fact, is expected
from the symmetry of i and e in Eq. (9.35), i.e., δ remains the same if i
and e are interchanged. Physically, this is related
to the fact that the path of ray in Fig. 9.23 can be
traced back, resulting in the same angle of
deviation. At the minimum deviation Dm, the
refracted ray inside the prism becomes parallel
to its base. We have
δ = Dm, i = e which implies r1 = r2.
Equation (9.34) gives
A
2r = A or r = (9.36)
2
In the same way, Eq. (9.35) gives
Dm = 2i – A, or i = (A + Dm)/2 (9.37)
The refractive index of the prism is
n 2 sin[( A + Dm )/2]
n 21 = = (9.38) FIGURE 9.24 Plot of angle of deviation (δ )
n1 sin [ A / 2]
versus angle of incidence (i ) for a
The angles A and D m can be measured triangular prism.
experimentally. Equation (9.38) thus provides a
method of determining refractive index of the material of the prism.
For a small angle prism, i.e., a thin prism, Dm is also very small, and
we get

n 21 =
sin[( A + Dm )/2] ( A + Dm ) /2
sin[ A /2] A /2
Dm = (n 21–1)A
It implies that, thin prisms do not deviate light much. 331
 Physics
9.7 DISPERSION BY A PRISM
It has been known for a long time that when a narrow beam of sunlight,
usually called white light, is incident on a glass prism, the emergent
light is seen to be consisting of several colours. There is actually a
continuous variation of colour, but broadly, the different component
colours that appear in sequence are:
violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange
and red (given by the acronym
VIBGYOR). The red light bends the
least, while the violet light bends the most
(Fig. 9.25).
The phenomenon of splitting of light
into its component colours is known as
dispersion. The pattern of colour
components of light is called the spectrum
of light. The word spectrum is now used
in a much more general sense: we
discussed in Chapter 8 the electro-
FIGURE 9.25 Dispersion of sunlight or white light
on passing through a glass prism. The relative magnetic spectrum over the large range
deviation of different colours shown is highly of wavelengths, from γ-rays to radio
exaggerated. waves, of which the spectrum of light
(visible spectrum) is only a small part.
Though the reason for appearance of
spectrum is now common knowledge, it was a matter of much debate in
the history of physics. Does the prism itself create colour in some way or
does it only separate the colours already present in white light?
In a classic experiment known for its simplicity but great significance,
Isaac Newton settled the issue once for all. He put another similar prism,
but in an inverted position, and let the emergent beam from the first
prism fall on the second prism (Fig. 9.26). The resulting emergent beam
was found to be white light. The explanation was clear— the first prism
splits the white light into its component colours, while the inverted prism
recombines them to give white light. Thus, white
light itself consists of light of different colours,
which are separated by the prism.
It must be understood here that a ray of light,
as defined mathematically, does not exist. An
actual ray is really a beam of many rays of light.
Each ray splits into component colours when it
enters the glass prism. When those coloured rays
come out on the other side, they again produce a
white beam.
FIGURE 9.26 Schematic diagram of We now know that colour is associated with
Newton’s classic experiment on wavelength of light. In the visible spectrum, red
dispersion of white light.
light is at the long wavelength end (~700 nm) while
the violet light is at the short wavelength end
(~ 400 nm). Dispersion takes place because the refractive index of medium
332 for different wavelengths (colours) is different. For example, the bending
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
of red component of white light is least while it is most for the violet.
Equivalently, red light travels faster than violet light in a glass prism.
Table 9.2 gives the refractive indices for different wavelength for crown
glass and flint glass. Thick lenses could be assumed as made of many
prisms, therefore, thick lenses show chromatic aberration due to
dispersion of light.

TABLE 9.2 REFRACTIVE INDICES FOR DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS

Colour Wavelength (nm) Crown glass Flint glass

Violet 396.9 1.533 1.663

Blue 486.1 1.523 1.639
Yellow 589.3 1.517 1.627
Red 656.3 1.515 1.622

The variation of refractive index with wavelength may be more

pronounced in some media than the other. In vacuum, of course, the
speed of light is independent of wavelength. Thus, vacuum (or air
approximately) is a non-dispersive medium in which all colours travel
with the same speed. This also follows from the fact that sunlight reaches
us in the form of white light and not as its components. On the other
hand, glass is a dispersive medium.

9.8 SOME NATURAL PHENOMENA DUE TO SUNLIGHT

http://www.atoptics.co.uk/bows.htm
http://www.eo.ucar.edu/rainbows
Formation of rainbows
The interplay of light with things around us gives rise to several beautiful
phenomena. The spectacle of colour that we see around us all the time is
possible only due to sunlight. The blue of the sky, white clouds, the red-
hue at sunrise and sunset, the rainbow, the brilliant colours of some
pearls, shells, and wings of birds, are just a few of the natural wonders
we are used to. We describe some of them here from the point of view
of physics.

9.8.1 The rainbow

The rainbow is an example of the dispersion of sunlight by the water
drops in the atmosphere. This is a phenomenon due to combined effect
of dispersion, refraction and reflection of sunlight by spherical water
droplets of rain. The conditions for observing a rainbow are that the sun
should be shining in one part of the sky (say near western horizon) while
it is raining in the opposite part of the sky (say eastern horizon).
An observer can therefore see a rainbow only when his back is towards
the sun.
In order to understand the formation of rainbows, consider
Fig. (9.27(a). Sunlight is first refracted as it enters a raindrop, which
causes the different wavelengths (colours) of white light to separate.
Longer wangelength of light (red) are bent the least while the shorter
wavelength (violet) are bent the most. Next, these component rays strike 333
 Physics

FIGURE 9.27 Rainbow: (a) The sun rays incident on a water drop get refracted twice
and reflected internally by a drop; (b) Enlarge view of internal reflection and
refraction of a ray of light inside a drop form primary rainbow; and
(c) secondary rainbow is formed by rays
undergoing internal reflection twice
inside the drop.

the inner surface of the water drop and get internally reflected if the angle
between the refracted ray and normal to the drop surface is greater then
the critical angle (48º, in this case). The reflected light is refracted again
as it comes out of the drop as shown in the figure. It is found that the
violet light emerges at an angle of 40º related to the incoming sunlight
and red light emerges at an angle of 42º. For other colours, angles lie in
334 between these two values.
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
Figure 9.27(b) explains the formation of primary rainbow. We see
that red light from drop 1 and violet light from drop 2 reach the observers
eye. The violet from drop 1 and red light from drop 2 are directed at level
above or below the observer. Thus the observer sees a rainbow with
red colour on the top and violet on the bottom. Thus, the primary
rainbow is a result of three-step process, that is, refraction, reflection
and refraction.
When light rays undergoes two internal reflections inside a raindrop,
instead of one as in the primary rainbow, a secondary rainbow is formed
as shown in Fig. 9.27(c). It is due to four-step process. The intensity of
light is reduced at the second reflection and hence the secondary rainbow
is fainter than the primary rainbow. Further, the order of the colours is
reversed in it as is clear from Fig. 9.27(c).

9.8.2 Scattering of light

As sunlight travels through the earth’s atmosphere, it gets scattered
(changes its direction) by the atmospheric particles. Light of shorter
wavelengths is scattered much more than light of longer wavelengths.
(The amount of scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power
of the wavelength. This is known as Rayleigh scattering). Hence, the bluish
colour predominates in a clear sky, since blue has a shorter wave-
length than red and is scattered much more strongly. In fact, violet
gets scattered even more than blue, having a shorter wavelength.
But since our eyes are more sensitive to blue than violet, we see the
sky blue.
Large particles like dust and water
droplets present in the atmosphere
behave differently. The relevant quantity
here is the relative size of the wavelength
of light λ, and the scatterer (of typical size,
say, a). For a << λ, one has Rayleigh
scattering which is proportional to (1/λ)4.
For a >> λ, i.e., large scattering objects
(for example, raindrops, large dust or ice
particles) this is not true; all wavelengths
are scattered nearly equally. Thus, clouds FIGURE 9.28 Sunlight travels through a longer
which have droplets of water with a >> λ distance in the atmosphere at sunset and sunrise.
are generally white.
At sunset or sunrise, the sun’s rays
have to pass through a larger distance in the atmosphere (Fig. 9.28).
Most of the blue and other shorter wavelengths are removed by scattering.
The least scattered light reaching our eyes, therefore, the sun looks
reddish. This explains the reddish appearance of the sun and full moon
near the horizon.

9.9 OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS

A number of optical devices and instruments have been designed utilising
reflecting and refracting properties of mirrors, lenses and prisms.
Periscope, kaleidoscope, binoculars, telescopes, microscopes are some 335
 Physics
examples of optical devices and instruments that are in common use.
Our eye is, of course, one of the most important optical device the nature
has endowed us with. Starting with the eye, we then go on to describe
the principles of working of the microscope and the telescope.

9.9.1 The eye

Figure 9.29 (a) shows the eye. Light enters the eye through a curved
front surface, the cornea. It passes through the pupil which is the central
hole in the iris. The size of the pupil can change under control of muscles.
The light is further focussed by the eye lens on the retina. The retina is a
film of nerve fibres covering the curved back surface of the eye. The retina
contains rods and cones which sense light intensity and colour,
respectively, and transmit electrical signals via the optic nerve to the brain
which finally processes this information. The shape (curvature) and
therefore the focal length of the lens can be modified somewhat by the
ciliary muscles. For example, when the muscle is relaxed, the focal length
is about 2.5 cm and objects at infinity are in sharp focus on the retina.
When the object is brought closer to the eye, in order to maintain the
same image-lens distance (≅ 2.5 cm), the focal length of the eye lens
becomes shorter by the action of the ciliary muscles. This property of the
eye is called accommodation. If the object is too close to the eye, the lens
cannot curve enough to focus the image on to the retina, and the image
is blurred. The closest distance for which the lens can focus light on the
retina is called the least distance of distinct vision, or the near point.
The standard value for normal vision is taken as 25 cm. (Often the near
point is given the symbol D.) This distance increases with age, because
of the decreasing effectiveness of the ciliary muscle and the loss of
flexibility of the lens. The near point may be as close as about 7 to 8 cm
in a child ten years of age, and may increase to as much as 200 cm at 60
years of age. Thus, if an elderly person tries to read a book at about 25 cm
from the eye, the image appears blurred. This condition (defect of the eye)
is called presbyopia. It is corrected by using a converging lens for reading.
Thus, our eyes are marvellous organs that have the capability to
interpret incoming electromagnetic waves as images through a complex
process. These are our greatest assets and we must take proper care to
protect them. Imagine the world without a pair of functional eyes. Yet
many amongst us bravely face this challenge by effectively overcoming
their limitations to lead a normal life. They deserve our appreciation for
their courage and conviction.
In spite of all precautions and proactive action, our eyes may develop
some defects due to various reasons. We shall restrict our discussion to
some common optical defects of the eye. For example, the light from a
distant object arriving at the eye-lens may get converged at a point in
front of the retina. This type of defect is called nearsightedness or myopia .
This means that the eye is producing too much convergence in the incident
beam. To compensate this, we interpose a concave lens between the eye
and the object, with the diverging effect desired to get the image focussed
336 on the retina [Fig. 9.29(b)].
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments

FIGURE 9.29 (a) The structure of the eye; (b) shortsighted or myopic eye and its correction;
(c) farsighted or hypermetropic eye and its correction; and (d) astigmatic eye and its correction.

Similarly, if the eye-lens focusses the incoming light at a point behind

the retina, a convergent lens is needed to compensate for the defect in vision.
This defect is called farsightedness or hypermetropia [Fig. 9.29(c)].
Another common defect of vision is called astigmatism. This occurs
when the cornea is not spherical in shape. For example, the cornea could
have a larger curvature in the vertical plane than in the horizontal plane
or vice-versa. If a person with such a defect in eye-lens looks at a wire
mesh or a grid of lines, focussing in either the vertical or the horizontal
plane may not be as sharp as in the other plane. Astigmatism results in
lines in one direction being well focussed while those in a perpendicular
direction may appear distorted [Fig. 9.29(d)]. Astigmatism can be
corrected by using a cylindrical lens of desired radius of curvature with
an appropriately directed axis. This defect can occur along with myopia
or hypermetropia.

Example 9.10 What focal length should the reading spectacles have
for a person for whom the least distance of distinct vision is 50 cm?
Solution The distance of normal vision is 25 cm. So if a book is at
u = –25 cm, its image should be formed at v = –50 cm. Therefore, the
desired focal length is given by
E XAMPLE 9.10

1 1 1
= −
f v u
1 1 1 1
or f = –50 − – 25 = 50
orf = + 50 cm (convex lens). 337
 Physics
Example 9.11
(a) The far point of a myopic person is 80 cm in front of the eye. What
is the power of the lens required to enable him to see very distant
objects clearly?
(b) In what way does the corrective lens help the above person? Does
the lens magnify very distant objects? Explain carefully.
(c) The above person prefers to remove his spectacles while reading
a book. Explain why?
Solution
(a) Solving as in the previous example, we find that the person should
use a concave lens of focal length = – 80 cm, i.e., of power = – 1.25
dioptres.
(b) No. The concave lens, in fact, reduces the size of the object, but
the angle subtended by the distant object at the eye is the same
as the angle subtended by the image (at the far point) at the eye.
The eye is able to see distant objects not because the corrective
lens magnifies the object, but because it brings the object (i.e., it
produces virtual image of the object) at the far point of the eye
which then can be focussed by the eye-lens on the retina.
(c) The myopic person may have a normal near point, i.e., about
25 cm (or even less). In order to read a book with the spectacles,
EXAMPLE 9.11

such a person must keep the book at a distance greater than

25 cm so that the image of the book by the concave lens is produced
not closer than 25 cm. The angular size of the book (or its image)
at the greater distance is evidently less than the angular size
when the book is placed at 25 cm and no spectacles are needed.
Hence, the person prefers to remove the spectacles while reading.

Example 9.12 (a) The near point of a hypermetropic person is 75 cm

from the eye. What is the power of the lens required to enable the
person to read clearly a book held at 25 cm from the eye? (b) In what
way does the corrective lens help the above person? Does the lens
magnify objects held near the eye? (c) The above person prefers to
remove the spectacles while looking at the sky. Explain why?
Solution
(a) u = – 25 cm, v = – 75 cm
1/f = 1/25 – 1/75, i.e., f = 37.5 cm.
The corrective lens needs to have a converging power of +2.67
dioptres.
(b) The corrective lens produces a virtual image (at 75 cm) of an object
at 25 cm. The angular size of this image is the same as that of the
object. In this sense the lens does not magnify the object but merely
brings the object to the near point of the hypermetric eye, which
then gets focussed on the retina. However, the angular size is
greater than that of the same object at the near point (75 cm)
viewed without the spectacles.
EXAMPLE 9.12

(c) A hypermetropic eye may have normal far point i.e., it may have
enough converging power to focus parallel rays from infinity on
the retina of the shortened eyeball. Wearing spectacles of converging
lenses (used for near vision) will amount to more converging power
than needed for parallel rays. Hence the person prefers not to use
338 the spectacles for far objects.
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
9.9.2 The microscope
A simple magnifier or microscope is a converging lens of small focal length
(Fig. 9.30). In order to use such a lens as a microscope, the lens is held
near the object, one focal length away or less, and
the eye is positioned close to the lens on the other
side. The idea is to get an erect, magnified and
virtual image of the object at a distance so that it
can be viewed comfortably, i.e., at 25 cm or more.
If the object is at a distance f, the image is at
infinity. However, if the object is at a distance
slightly less than the focal length of the lens, the
image is virtual and closer than infinity. Although
the closest comfortable distance for viewing the
image is when it is at the near point (distance
D ≅ 25 cm), it causes some strain on the eye.
Therefore, the image formed at infinity is often
considered most suitable for viewing by the relaxed
eye. We show both cases, the first in Fig. 9.30(a),
and the second in Fig. 9.30(b) and (c).
The linear magnification m , for the image
formed at the near point D, by a simple microscope
can be obtained by using the relation
v ⎛1 1⎞ ⎛ v⎞
m= = v ⎜ – ⎟ = ⎜1 – ⎟
u ⎝v f ⎠ ⎝ f⎠
Now according to our sign convention, v is
negative, and is equal in magnitude to D. Thus,
the magnification is
⎛ D⎞
m = ⎜1 + ⎟ (9.39)
⎝ f⎠
Since D is about 25 cm, to have a magnification of
six, one needs a convex lens of focal length,
f = 5 cm. FIGURE 9.30 A simple microscope; (a) the
Note that m = h′/h where h is the size of the magnifying lens is located such that the
object and h′ the size of the image. This is also the image is at the near point, (b) the angle
ratio of the angle subtended by the image subtanded by the object, is the same as
to that subtended by the object, if placed at D for that at the near point, and (c) the object
comfortable viewing. (Note that this is not the angle near the focal point of the lens; the image
actually subtended by the object at the eye, which is far off but closer than infinity.
is h/u.) What a single-lens simple magnifier
achieves is that it allows the object to be brought closer to the eye than D.
We will now find the magnification when the image is at infinity. In
this case we will have to obtained the angular magnification. Suppose
the object has a height h. The maximum angle it can subtend, and be
clearly visible (without a lens), is when it is at the near point, i.e., a distance
D. The angle subtended is then given by
⎛h⎞
tan θo = ⎜ ⎟ ≈ θo (9.40) 339
⎝ D⎠
 Physics
We now find the angle subtended at the eye by the image when the
object is at u. From the relations
h′ v
=m =
h u
we have the angle subtended by the image
h′ h v h
tan θi = = ⋅ = ≈θ . The angle subtended by the object, when it
−v −v u −u
is at u = –f.
⎛h⎞
θi = ⎜ ⎟ (9.41)
⎝f⎠
as is clear from Fig. 9.29(c). The angular magnification is, therefore
⎛θ ⎞ D
m =⎜ i⎟ = (9.42)
⎝ θo ⎠ f
This is one less than the magnification when the image is at the near
point, Eq. (9.39), but the viewing is more comfortable and the difference
in magnification is usually small. In subsequent discussions of optical
instruments (microscope and telescope) we shall assume the image to be
at infinity.
A simple microscope has a limited maximum magnification (≤ 9) for
realistic focal lengths. For much larger magnifications, one uses two
lenses, one compounding the effect of the other. This is known as a
compound microscope. A schematic diagram of
a compound microscope is shown in Fig. 9.31.
The lens nearest the object, called the objective,
forms a real, inverted, magnified image of the
object. This serves as the object for the second
lens, the eyepiece, which functions essentially
like a simple microscope or magnifier, produces
the final image, which is enlarged and virtual.
The first inverted image is thus near (at or
within) the focal plane of the eyepiece, at a
distance appropriate for final image formation
at infinity, or a little closer for image formation
at the near point. Clearly, the final image is
inverted with respect to the original object.
FIGURE 9.31 Ray diagram for the We now obtain the magnification due to a
formation of image by a compound compound microscope. The ray diagram of
microscope. Fig. 9.31 shows that the (linear) magnification
due to the objective, namely h′/h, equals
h′ L
mO = = (9.43)
h fo
where we have used the result
⎛ h ⎞ ⎛ h′⎞
tan β = ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟
340 ⎝ fo ⎠ ⎝ L ⎠
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
Here h′ is the size of the first image, the object size being h and fo
being the focal length of the objective. The first image is formed near the
focal point of the eyepiece. The distance L, i.e., the distance between the
second focal point of the objective and the first focal point of the eyepiece
(focal length fe ) is called the tube length of the compound microscope.
As the first inverted image is near the focal point of the eyepiece, we
use the result from the discussion above for the simple microscope to
obtain the (angular) magnification me due to it [Eq. (9.39)], when the
final image is formed at the near point, is
⎛ D⎞
m e = ⎜1 +
f e ⎟⎠
[9.44(a)]
⎝
When the final image is formed at infinity, the angular magnification
due to the eyepiece [Eq. (9.42)] is
me = (D/fe ) [9.44(b)]
Thus, the total magnification [(according to Eq. (9.33)], when the
image is formed at infinity, is

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The world’s largest optical telescopes
⎛ L⎞ ⎛D⎞
m = m om e = ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ (9.45)
⎝ fo ⎠ ⎝ fe ⎠
Clearly, to achieve a large magnification of a small object (hence the
name microscope), the objective and eyepiece should have small focal
lengths. In practice, it is difficult to make the focal length much smaller
than 1 cm. Also large lenses are required to make L large.
For example, with an objective with fo = 1.0 cm, and an eyepiece with
focal length fe = 2.0 cm, and a tube length of 20 cm, the magnification is
⎛ L⎞ ⎛D⎞
m = m om e = ⎜ ⎟ ⎜⎝ f ⎟⎠
⎝ fo ⎠ e

20 25
= × = 250
1 2
Various other factors such as illumination of the object, contribute to
the quality and visibility of the image. In modern microscopes, multi-
component lenses are used for both the objective and the eyepiece to
improve image quality by minimising various optical aberrations (defects)
in lenses.

9.9.3 Telescope
The telescope is used to provide angular magnification of distant objects
(Fig. 9.32). It also has an objective and an eyepiece. But here, the objective
has a large focal length and a much larger aperture than the eyepiece.
Light from a distant object enters the objective and a real image is formed
in the tube at its second focal point. The eyepiece magnifies this image
producing a final inverted image. The magnifying power m is the ratio of
the angle β subtended at the eye by the final image to the angle α which
the object subtends at the lens or the eye. Hence
β h fo f
m ≈ ≈ . = o (9.46)
α fe h fe
In this case, the length of the telescope tube is fo + fe . 341
 Physics
Terrestrial telescopes have, in
addition, a pair of inverting lenses to
make the final image erect. Refracting
telescopes can be used both for
terrestrial and astronomical
observations. For example, consider
a telescope whose objective has a focal
length of 100 cm and the eyepiece a
focal length of 1 cm. The magnifying
power of this telescope is
m = 100/1 = 100.
Let us consider a pair of stars of
actual separation 1′ (one minute of
arc). The stars appear as though they
FIGURE 9.32 A refracting telescope.
are separated by an angle of 100 × 1′
= 100′ =1.67º.
The main considerations with an astronomical telescope are its light
gathering power and its resolution or resolving power. The former clearly
depends on the area of the objective. With larger diameters, fainter objects
can be observed. The resolving power, or the ability to observe two objects
distinctly, which are in very nearly the same direction, also depends on
the diameter of the objective. So, the desirable aim in optical telescopes
is to make them with objective of large diameter. The largest lens objective
in use has a diameter of 40 inch (~1.02 m). It is at the Yerkes Observatory
in Wisconsin, USA. Such big lenses tend to be very heavy and therefore,
difficult to make and support by their edges. Further, it is rather difficult
and expensive to make such large sized lenses which form images that
are free from any kind of chromatic aberration and distortions.
For these reasons, modern telescopes use a concave mirror rather
than a lens for the objective. Telescopes with mirror objectives are called
reflecting telescopes. They have several advantages. First, there is no
chromatic aberration in a mirror. Second, if a parabolic reflecting surface
is chosen, spherical aberration is also removed. Mechanical support is
much less of a problem since a mirror weighs much less than a lens of
equivalent optical quality, and can be
supported over its entire back surface, not
just over its rim. One obvious problem with a
reflecting telescope is that the objective mirror
focusses light inside the telescope tube. One
must have an eyepiece and the observer right
there, obstructing some light (depending on
the size of the observer cage). This is what is
done in the very large 200 inch (~5.08 m)
diameters, Mt. Palomar telescope, California.
The viewer sits near the focal point of the
FIGURE 9.33 Schematic diagram of a reflecting mirror, in a small cage. Another solution to
telescope (Cassegrain). the problem is to deflect the light being
focussed by another mirror. One such
arrangement using a convex secondary mirror to focus the incident light,
342 which now passes through a hole in the objective primary mirror, is shown
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
in Fig. 9.33. This is known as a Cassegrain telescope, after its inventor.
It has the advantages of a large focal length in a short telescope. The
largest telescope in India is in Kavalur, Tamil Nadu. It is a 2.34 m diameter
reflecting telescope (Cassegrain). It was ground, polished, set up, and is
being used by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. The largest
reflecting telescopes in the world are the pair of Keck telescopes in Hawaii,
USA, with a reflector of 10 metre in diameter.

SUMMARY

1. Reflection is governed by the equation ∠i = ∠r′ and refraction by the

Snell’s law, sini/sinr = n, where the incident ray, reflected ray, refracted
ray and normal lie in the same plane. Angles of incidence, reflection
and refraction are i, r ′ and r, respectively.
2. The critical angle of incidence ic for a ray incident from a denser to rarer
medium, is that angle for which the angle of refraction is 90°. For
i > ic, total internal reflection occurs. Multiple internal reflections in
diamond (ic ≅ 24.4°), totally reflecting prisms and mirage, are some
examples of total internal reflection. Optical fibres consist of glass
fibres coated with a thin layer of material of lower refractive index.
Light incident at an angle at one end comes out at the other, after
multiple internal reflections, even if the fibre is bent.
3. Cartesian sign convention: Distances measured in the same direction
as the incident light are positive; those measured in the opposite
direction are negative. All distances are measured from the pole/optic
centre of the mirror/lens on the principal axis. The heights measured
upwards above x-axis and normal to the principal axis of the mirror/
lens are taken as positive. The heights measured downwards are taken
as negative.
4. Mirror equation:
1 1 1
+ =
v u f
where u and v are object and image distances, respectively and f is the
focal length of the mirror. f is (approximately) half the radius of
curvature R. f is negative for concave mirror; f is positive for a convex
mirror.
5. For a prism of the angle A, of refractive index n 2 placed in a medium
of refractive index n1,

n 2 sin ⎡⎣( A + D m ) /2⎤⎦

n 21 = =
n1 sin ( A /2)
where Dm is the angle of minimum deviation.
6. For refraction through a spherical interface (from medium 1 to 2 of
refractive index n1 and n 2, respectively)
n 2 n1 n 2 − n 1
− =
v u R
Thin lens formula
1 1 1
− =
v u f
343
 Physics
Lens maker’s formula

1 ( n 2 − n1 ) ⎛ 1 1⎞
= ⎜ −
f n1 ⎝ R1 R 2 ⎟⎠
R1 and R2 are the radii of curvature of the lens surfaces. f is positive
for a converging lens; f is negative for a diverging lens. The power of a
lens P = 1/f.
The SI unit for power of a lens is dioptre (D): 1 D = 1 m–1.
If several thin lenses of focal length f1, f2, f3,.. are in contact, the
effective focal length of their combination, is given by
1 1 1 1
= + + +…
f f1 f2 f3
The total power of a combination of several lenses is
P = P1 + P2 + P3 + …
7. Dispersion is the splitting of light into its constituent colours.
8. The Eye: The eye has a convex lens of focal length about 2.5 cm. This
focal length can be varied somewhat so that the image is always formed
on the retina. This ability of the eye is called accommodation. In a
defective eye, if the image is focussed before the retina (myopia), a
diverging corrective lens is needed; if the image is focussed beyond the
retina (hypermetropia), a converging corrective lens is needed.
Astigmatism is corrected by using cylindrical lenses.
9. Magnifying power m of a simple microscope is given by m = 1 + (D/f ),
where D = 25 cm is the least distance of distinct vision and f is the
focal length of the convex lens. If the image is at infinity, m = D/f. For
a compound microscope, the magnifying power is given by
m = me × m0 where me = 1 + (D/fe ), is the magnification due to the
eyepiece and mo is the magnification produced by the objective.
Approximately,
L D
m = ×
fo fe
where fo and fe are the focal lengths of the objective and eyepiece,
respectively, and L is the distance between their focal points.
10. Magnifying power m of a telescope is the ratio of the angle β subtended
at the eye by the image to the angle α subtended at the eye by the
object.
β f
m = = o
α fe
where f0 and fe are the focal lengths of the objective and eyepiece,
respectively.

POINTS TO PONDER

1. The laws of reflection and refraction are true for all surfaces and
pairs of media at the point of the incidence.
2. The real image of an object placed between f and 2f from a convex lens
can be seen on a screen placed at the image location. If the screen is
removed, is the image still there? This question puzzles many, because
it is difficult to reconcile ourselves with an image suspended in air
344
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments

without a screen. But the image does exist. Rays from a given point
on the object are converging to an image point in space and diverging
away. The screen simply diffuses these rays, some of which reach our
eye and we see the image. This can be seen by the images formed in air
during a laser show.
3. Image formation needs regular reflection/refraction. In principle, all
rays from a given point should reach the same image point. This is
why you do not see your image by an irregular reflecting object, say
the page of a book.
4. Thick lenses give coloured images due to dispersion. The variety in
colour of objects we see around us is due to the constituent colours of
the light incident on them. A monochromatic light may produce an
entirely different perception about the colours on an object as seen in
white light.
5. For a simple microscope, the angular size of the object equals the
angular size of the image. Yet it offers magnification because we can
keep the small object much closer to the eye than 25 cm and hence
have it subtend a large angle. The image is at 25 cm which we can see.
Without the microscope, you would need to keep the small object at
25 cm which would subtend a very small angle.

EXERCISES
9.1 A small candle, 2.5 cm in size is placed at 27 cm in front of a concave
mirror of radius of curvature 36 cm. At what distance from the mirror
should a screen be placed in order to obtain a sharp image? Describe
the nature and size of the image. If the candle is moved closer to the
mirror, how would the screen have to be moved?
9.2 A 4.5 cm needle is placed 12 cm away from a convex mirror of focal
length 15 cm. Give the location of the image and the magnification.
Describe what happens as the needle is moved farther from the mirror.
9.3 A tank is filled with water to a height of 12.5 cm. The apparent
depth of a needle lying at the bottom of the tank is measured by a
microscope to be 9.4 cm. What is the refractive index of water? If
water is replaced by a liquid of refractive index 1.63 up to the same
height, by what distance would the microscope have to be moved to
focus on the needle again?
9.4 Figures 9.34(a) and (b) show refraction of a ray in air incident at 60°
with the normal to a glass-air and water-air interface, respectively.
Predict the angle of refraction in glass when the angle of incidence
in water is 45º with the normal to a water-glass interface [Fig. 9.34(c)].

FIGURE 9.34 345

 Physics
9.5 A small 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 from the bulb can emerge out? Refractive index of water
is 1.33. (Consider the bulb to be a point source.)
9.6 A prism is made of glass of unknown refractive index. A parallel
beam of light is incident on a face of the prism. The angle of minimum
deviation is measured to be 40°. What is the refractive index of the
material of the prism? The refracting angle of the prism is 60°. If
the prism is placed in water (refractive index 1.33), predict the new
angle of minimum deviation of a parallel beam of light.
9.7 Double-convex lenses are to be manufactured from a glass of
refractive index 1.55, with both faces of the same radius of
curvature. What is the radius of curvature required if the focal length
is to be 20 cm?
9.8 A beam of light converges at a point P. Now a lens is placed in the
path of the convergent beam 12 cm from P. At what point does the
beam converge if the lens is (a) a convex lens of focal length 20 cm,
and (b) a concave lens of focal length 16 cm?
9.9 An object of size 3.0 cm is placed 14cm in front of a concave lens of
focal length 21 cm. Describe the image produced by the lens. What
happens if the object is moved further away from the lens?
9.10 What is the focal length of a convex lens of focal length 30 cm in
contact with a concave lens of focal length 20 cm? Is the system a
converging or a diverging lens? Ignore thickness of the lenses.
9.11 A compound microscope consists of an objective lens of focal length
2.0 cm and an eyepiece of focal length 6.25 cm separated by a
distance of 15 cm. How far from the objective should an object be
placed in order to obtain the final image at (a) the least distance of
distinct vision (25 cm), and (b) at infinity? What is the magnifying
power of the microscope in each case?
9.12 A person with a normal near point (25 cm) using a compound
microscope with objective of focal length 8.0 mm and an eyepiece of
focal length 2.5 cm can bring an object placed at 9.0 mm from the
objective in sharp focus. What is the separation between the two
lenses? Calculate the magnifying power of the microscope,
9.13 A small telescope has an objective lens of focal length 144 cm and
an eyepiece of focal length 6.0 cm. What is the magnifying power of
the telescope? What is the separation between the objective and
the eyepiece?
9.14 (a) A giant refracting telescope at an observatory has an objective
lens of focal length 15 m. If an eyepiece of focal length 1.0 cm is
used, what is the angular magnification of the telescope?
(b) If this telescope is used to view the moon, what is the diameter
of the image of the moon formed by the objective lens? The
diameter of the moon is 3.48 × 106 m, and the radius of lunar
orbit is 3.8 × 108 m.
9.15 Use the mirror equation to deduce that:
(a) an object placed between f and 2 f of a concave mirror produces
a real image beyond 2 f.
(b) a convex mirror always produces a virtual image independent
of the location of the object.
(c) the virtual image produced by a convex mirror is always
diminished in size and is located between the focus and
346 the pole.
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
(d) an object placed between the pole and focus of a concave mirror
produces a virtual and enlarged image.
[Note: This exercise helps you deduce algebraically properties of
images that one obtains from explicit ray diagrams.]
9.16 A small pin fixed on a table top is viewed from above from a distance
of 50 cm. By what distance would the pin appear to be raised if it is
viewed from the same point through a 15 cm thick glass slab held
parallel to the table? Refractive index of glass = 1.5. Does the answer
depend on the location of the slab?
9.17 (a) Figure 9.35 shows a cross-section of a ‘light pipe’ made of a
glass fibre of refractive index 1.68. The outer covering of the
pipe is made of a material of refractive index 1.44. What is the
range of the angles of the incident rays with the axis of the pipe
for which total reflections inside the pipe take place, as shown
in the figure.
(b) What is the answer if there is no outer covering of the pipe?

FIGURE 9.35

9.18 Answer the following questions:

(a) You have learnt that plane and convex mirrors produce virtual
images of objects. Can they produce real images under some
circumstances? Explain.
(b) A virtual image, we always say, cannot be caught on a screen.
Yet when we ‘see’ a virtual image, we are obviously bringing it
on to the ‘screen’ (i.e., the retina) of our eye. Is there a
contradiction?
(c) A diver under water, looks obliquely at a fisherman standing on
the bank of a lake. Would the fisherman look taller or shorter to
the diver than what he actually is?
(d) Does the apparent depth of a tank of water change if viewed
obliquely? If so, does the apparent depth increase or decrease?
(e) The refractive index of diamond is much greater than that of
ordinary glass. Is this fact of some use to a diamond cutter?
9.19 The image of a small electric bulb fixed on the wall of a room is to be
obtained on the opposite wall 3 m away by means of a large convex
lens. What is the maximum possible focal length of the lens required
for the purpose?
9.20 A screen is placed 90 cm from an object. The image of the object on
the screen is formed by a convex lens at two different locations
separated by 20 cm. Determine the focal length of the lens.
9.21 (a) Determine the ‘effective focal length’ of the combination of the
two lenses in Exercise 9.10, if they are placed 8.0 cm apart with
their principal axes coincident. Does the answer depend on
which side of the combination a beam of parallel light is incident?
Is the notion of effective focal length of this system useful at all?
(b) An object 1.5 cm in size is placed on the side of the convex lens
in the arrangement (a) above. The distance between the object 347
 Physics
and the convex lens is 40 cm. Determine the magnification
produced by the two-lens system, and the size of the image.
9.22 At what angle should a ray of light be incident on the face of a prism
of refracting angle 60° so that it just suffers total internal reflection
at the other face? The refractive index of the material of the prism is
1.524.
9.23 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.
9.24 For a normal eye, the far point is at infinity and the near point of
distinct vision is about 25 cm in front of the eye. The cornea of the
eye provides a converging power of about 40 dioptres, and the least
converging power of the eye-lens behind the cornea is about 20
dioptres. From this rough data estimate the range of accommodation
(i.e., the range of converging power of the eye-lens) of a normal eye.
9.25 Does short-sightedness (myopia) or long-sightedness (hyper -
metropia) imply necessarily that the eye has partially lost its ability
of accommodation? If not, what might cause these defects of vision?
9.26 A myopic person has been using spectacles of power –1.0 dioptre
for distant vision. During old age he also needs to use separate
reading glass of power + 2.0 dioptres. Explain what may have
happened.
9.27 A person looking at a person wearing a shirt with a pattern
comprising vertical and horizontal lines is able to see the vertical
lines more distinctly than the horizontal ones. What is this defect
due to? How is such a defect of vision corrected?
9.28 A man with normal near point (25 cm) reads a book with small print
using a magnifying glass: a thin convex lens of focal length 5 cm.
(a) What is the closest and the farthest distance at which he should
keep the lens from the page so that he can read the book when
viewing through the magnifying glass?
(b) What is the maximum and the minimum angular magnification
(magnifying power) possible using the above simple microscope?
9.29 A card sheet divided into squares each of size 1 mm2 is being viewed
at a distance of 9 cm through a magnifying glass (a converging lens
of focal length 9 cm) held close to the eye.
(a) What is the magnification produced by the lens? How much is
the area of each square in the virtual image?
(b) What is the angular magnification (magnifying power) of the
lens ?
(c) Is the magnification in (a) equal to the magnifying power in (b)?
Explain.
9.30 (a) At what distance should the lens be held from the figure in
Exercise 9.29 in order to view the squares distinctly with the
maximum possible magnifying power?
(b) What is the magnification in this case?
(c) Is the magnification equal to the magnifying power in this case?
Explain.
9.31 What should be the distance between the object in Exercise 9.30
and the magnifying glass if the virtual image of each square in the
figure is to have an area of 6.25 mm2. Would you be able to see the
348 squares distinctly with your eyes very close to the magnifier ?
 Ray Optics and
Optical Instruments
[Note: Exercises 9.29 to 9.31 will help you clearly understand the
difference between magnification in absolute size and the angular
magnification (or magnifying power) of an instrument.]
9.32 Answer the following questions:
(a) The angle subtended at the eye by an object is equal to the
angle subtended at the eye by the virtual image produced by a
magnifying glass. In what sense then does a magnifying glass
provide angular magnification?
(b) In viewing through a magnifying glass, one usually positions
one’s eyes very close to the lens. Does angular magnification
change if the eye is moved back?
(c) Magnifying power of a simple microscope is inversely proportional
to the focal length of the lens. What then stops us from using a
convex lens of smaller and smaller focal length and achieving
greater and greater magnifying power?
(d) Why must both the objective and the eyepiece of a compound
microscope have short focal lengths?
(e) When viewing through a compound microscope, our eyes should
be positioned not on the eyepiece but a short distance away
from it for best viewing. Why? How much should be that short
distance between the eye and eyepiece?
9.33 An angular magnification (magnifying power) of 30X is desired using
an objective of focal length 1.25 cm and an eyepiece of focal length
5 cm. How will you set up the compound microscope?
9.34 A small telescope has an objective lens of focal length 140 cm and
an eyepiece of focal length 5.0 cm. What is the magnifying power of
the telescope for viewing distant objects when
(a) the telescope is in normal adjustment (i.e., when the final image
is at infinity)?
(b) the final image is formed at the least distance of distinct vision
(25 cm)?
9.35 (a) For the telescope described in Exercise 9.34 (a), what is the
separation between the objective lens and the eyepiece?
(b) If this telescope is used to view a 100 m tall tower 3 km away,
what is the height of the image of the tower formed by the objective
lens?
(c) What is the height of the final image of the tower if it is formed at
25 cm?
9.36 A Cassegrain telescope uses two mirrors as shown in Fig. 9.33. Such
a telescope is built with the mirrors 20 mm apart. If the radius of
curvature of the large mirror is 220 mm and the small mirror is
140 mm, where will the final image of an object at infinity be?
9.37 Light incident normally on a plane mirror attached to a galvanometer
coil retraces backwards as shown in Fig. 9.36. A current in the coil
produces a deflection of 3.5o of the mirror. What is the displacement
of the reflected spot of light on a screen placed 1.5 m away?

349
FIGURE 9.36
 Physics
9.38 Figure 9.37 shows an equiconvex lens (of refractive index 1.50) in
contact with a liquid layer on top of a plane mirror. A small needle
with its tip on the principal axis is moved along the axis until its
inverted image is found at the position of the needle. The distance of
the needle from the lens is measured to be 45.0 cm. The liquid is
removed and the experiment is repeated. The new distance is
measured to be 30.0 cm. What is the refractive index of the liquid?

FIGURE 9.37

350