Refraction of Light at Plane

Surface and Total

Internal Reflection
Topic-1 Concepts covered: Refraction of
light through a glass block and a
triangular prism, Total internal
reflection

Revision Notes
¾¾The speed of light in air/vacuum is 3 × 108 m/s. ¾¾When light passes from rarer to denser medium, its
¾¾A medium is said to be optically denser if light slows wavelength decreases.
down in it. ¾¾When light passes from denser medium to rarer
¾¾A medium is said to be rarer if light speeds up in it. medium, its wavelength increases.
¾¾When a ray of light travels from a rarer medium to a ¾¾In case of minimum deviation of light while passing
denser medium, it bends towards the normal. through the prism, the refracted ray inside the prism
¾¾When a ray of light travels from a denser medium to a is parallel to the base of the prism.
rarer medium, it bends away from the normal. ¾¾Factors affecting the angle of deviation of light
¾¾The conditions when light travelling from one medium travelling through the prism are :
to another goes undeviated : (i) the angle of incidence.
(i) Optical densities of both the media are the same. (ii) the material of the prism (i.e., refractive index).
(ii) Angle of incidence is zero. i.e., light falls normally (iii) the angle of prism (A).
on the surface. (iv) the colour or wavelength (λ) of light used.
¾¾Refractive index has no unit. ¾¾Factors affecting lateral displacement of light passing
¾¾When light passes from one medium to another, its through a rectangular glass block :
frequency does not change but wavelength, speed and (i) The thickness of glass block
direction changes. (ii) The angle of incidence
(iii) The refractive index of the glass and
 (iv) the wavelength of light used. (b) Bending of stick under water
¾¾Cause of refraction is that light has different speeds in X Eye
Stick
different media.
Air O S
¾¾The refractive index of a transparent medium is always
Water
greater than 1. P’
¾¾Factors affecting refractive index of a medium :
(i) Nature of medium
P
(ii) Physical conditions such as temperature
(iii) The colour or wavelength of light
¾¾Critical angle is the angle of incidence in the denser
¾¾Speed of light in glass is 2 × 108 m/s and in water is
medium for which angle of refraction in the rarer
2.25 × 108 m/s. medium is 90°.
¾¾Refractive index of glass is 1.5, of water is 1.33 and of ¾¾When a ray of light travels from a denser to a rarer
diamond is 2.41.
medium with an angle of incidence greater than
¾¾Refraction of light through a rectangular glass block.
critical angle, then no refraction takes place and the
entire light is reflected back in the denser medium.
This is known as total internal reflection.
¾¾Essential conditions for total internal reflection to take
place :

(i) Light must travel from a denser to a rarer medium.

(ii) The angle of incidence should be greater than the

critical angle for the given pair of media.

¾¾Refraction of light through a glass prism

¾¾Total internal reflection in a triangular glass prism

(a) An equilateral prism ( 60°,60°,60°)
¾¾Applications of refraction of light
(a) Real and apparent depths of object in water
 (b) A prism with angles (60°,30°,90°) from a plane mirror, light can be
Scan
incident from any medium. this topic

(ii) T
here is no loss of energy in
total internal reflection, as the
entire light is internally reflected,
Angle of
whereas in case of reflection from minimum
plane mirror, there is a loss of deviation of
prism
energy due to absorption and
refraction of light.

Example 1
Complete the path of the ray AB through the glass
(c) A prism with angles (45°,45°,90°) prism in PQR till it emerges out of the prism. Given
(i) To deviate the incident ray by 90° i.e., (d = 90°) the critical angle of the glass as 42°.
A
P

P Q 45°
45° 30°

P' Q' N
45°
90°
N' 45°
B C
Q B R

(ii) To deviate the incident ray by 180° i.e., ( d = 180°)

A
P
Ans. E
30°

60° C
60°

60°
Q R
¾¾Comparison between total internal reflection and B

reflection from a plane mirror A

(i) In total internal reflection, light enters from a

denser to a rarer medium, whereas in reflection
 Refraction Through a Lens
Topic-2 Concepts covered: Lenses (convex and concave)

Revision Notes
¾¾A lens is a transparent refracting medium bounded by ¾¾For a concave lens, first focal point is a point F1 on
two surfaces, both of which are either spherical in the principal axis of the lens such that the incident
shape or one is plane and other is Scan rays of light appearing to meet at it, become parallel
spherical. A lens may be regarded as this topic to the principal axis of the lens after refraction from
being made up of a set of prisms. (A the lens.
lens is not made up of prisms.)
¾¾There are mainly two types of lenses :
(i) Convex or converging lens. Spherical lens

(ii) Concave or diverging lens.

¾¾Convex or converging lenses are thin at the edges and
thick at the middle.
¾¾Concave or diverging lenses are thick at the edges and
thin at the middle.
¾¾The principal axis of a lens is the line joining the
centres of the two spheres of the two surfaces of which
lens is a part. ¾¾For a convex lens, the second focal point is a point
F2 on the principal axis of the lens such that the rays
¾¾Optical centre of a thin lens is the point on the
of light incident parallel to the principal axis passes
principal axis of the lens through which a ray of light
through it after refraction from the lens.
passes undeviated.
¾¾For a convex lens, the first focal point is a point F1 on
the principal axis of the lens such that the rays of light
coming from it, become parallel to the principal axis of
the lens after refraction from the lens.

¾¾For a concave lens, the second focal point is a point

F2 on the principal axis of the lens such that the rays
 of light incident parallel to the principal axis appear ¾¾A convex lens is made up of a large number of prisms
to be diverging from this point after refraction from and a glass slab:
the lens. A convex lens may be considered to be a combination
of a large number of truncated prisms. The prisms in
the upper half have their bases downwards and the
prisms in the lower half have their bases upwards
with continuously changing angle of each prism. The
central part of the lens is like a glass slab.
Rays of light passing through the prisms tend to
deviate towards the base. The central rectangular glass
2
slab allows the incident ray to pass undeviated.
¾¾A concave lens always produces a virtual, erect and
diminished image of a real object.
¾¾The power of a lens is the reciprocal of its focal length
measured in metre. It is measured in units of dioptre
(D).
¾¾A convex lens of small focal length may be used as a
simple magnifying glass or a reading lens. For this, the
object is kept between the optical centre and the focus
of the lens. When it is used in this manner, it is also

known as a simple microscope.
¾¾A concave lens is made up of a large number of
¾¾The magnification produced by a lens is the ratio of
prisms and a glass slab:
a size of the image produced by it to the size of the
object. A concave lens may be considered to be a combination
¾¾Refraction of an oblique parallel beam by a convex of a large number of truncated prisms. The prisms in
lens : the upper half have their bases upwards and the prism
in the lower half have their bases downwards with
continuously changing angle of each prism.
The central part is like a rectangular glass block.
Rays of light passing through the prisms tend to
deviate away from the base. The central rectangular
glass slab allows the incident ray to pass undeviated.

¾¾Refraction of an oblique parallel beam by a concave

lens :

¾¾Distinction between a real and virtual image :

S. No. Real image Virtual image

1. A real image is formed due to actual intersection A virtual image is formed when the rays refracted
of the rays refracted by the lens. by the lens appear to meet if they are produced
backwards.
2. A real image can be obtained on a screen. A virtual image cannot be obtained on a screen.
3. A real image is inverted with respect to the object. A virtual image is erect with respect to the object.
Example : The image of a distant object formed by Example : The image of a distant object formed by a
a convex lens. concave lens.
¾¾Relative positions of the object and image in a convex
lens :

Positions of object Position of image Size of image Name of image Application

1. At infinity At F2 Highly diminished Real and inverted Burning glass
2. Beyond 2F1 Between F2 and 2F2 Diminished Real and inverted Camera lens
3. At 2F1 At 2F2 Same size Real and inverted Terrestrial telescope
4. Between F1 Beyond 2F2 Magnified Real and inverted Slide projector
and 2F1
5. At F1 At infinity Highly magnified Real and inverted Collimator of
spectrometer
6. Between the On same side, Magnified Virtual and upright Corrective lens or
optical centre behind the object Magnifying glass
and F1

¾¾Relative positions of object and image in a concave lens :

Position of the Position of the Nature of the image Size of the image Application
object image
1. At infinity At the focus, on the Virtual and upright Highly diminished Galilean telescope
same side of the lens
as the object.
2. At any position Between the focus Virtual and upright Diminished Corrective lens for
between infinity and optical centre, myopic eye
and optical on the same side of
centre. the lens as the object.
¾¾Difference between the image formed by a convex
lens and by a concave lens :

S. No. Image by a convex lens Image by a concave lens

1. The image may be real as well as virtual. It is real if The image is always virtual for all positions of the
the object lies at or beyond focus, while it is virtual object.
if the object lies between focus and optical centre.
2. The image may be magnified, of the same size, as The image is always diminished.
well as diminished.
3. The image may be inverted, as well as erect. The The image is always erect.
image is inverted if the object is at or beyond focus
and erect if the object is between focus and optical
centre.
¾¾The deviation produced by a lens in the path of rays
refracted through it, is a measure of its power. Power
of a lens is positive for the convex lens and negative
for the concave lens.
¾¾Power of lens (in dioptre) = 1/f
¾¾Magnifying power : The magnifying power of the
microscope is given as :
D
Magnifying power = 1 +
f ¾¾Focal Length of Lens: The distance between focus and
optical centre of the lens is called focal length of a lens.
Where, D = least distance of distinct vision ¾¾Focal Plane: The plane passing through the focus
f = focal length of the lens. and perpendicular to the principal axis is called Focal
plane.
¾¾Ray diagram for location of image in magnifying ¾¾Aperture: The effective diameter of the circular outline
glass : of a spherical lens is called its aperture.
¾¾Centre of Curvature: Centre of curvature of a surface perpendicular to principal axis are taken as
of a lens is the centre of the sphere of which lens is negative.
a part. A lens having two spherical surfaces has two ¾¾Lens formula
centres of curvature.
1 1 1
¾¾Radius of Curvature: Radius of curvature is the distance − =
between the optical centre and centre of curvature. v u f

¾¾Sign Conventions : Where, u = Object distance (always negative)
● All distances are measured from the optical centre
of the lens. v = Image distance
● Distances measured in the direction of the incident (may be positive or negative)
ray are taken as positive and opposite to the f = Focal length (positive the for convex lens and
direction of the incident ray are taken as negative.
negative for the concave lens)
● Distances measured upwards and perpendicular
¾¾Lenses are used for eye defect correction, magnifying
to principal axis are taken as positive,
glass, telescope, camera.
whereas distances measured downwards and
 Spectrum
Topic-3 Concept covered: Electromagnetic spectrum, Dispersion

Revision Notes
¾¾The phenomenon of splitting Scan ¾¾The angle of deviation depends upon, (i) angle
of white light by a prism into its this topic of incidence at first surface (ii) angle of prism (iii)
constituent colours is known as refractive index of the material.
dispersion. ¾¾Wavelengths and frequencies of different colours in
¾¾The band of colours seen on passing white light :
white light through a prism is called Dispersion of
the spectrum. light
Wavelength range Frequency range
¾¾Cause of dispersion : Colour
(nearly) in 1014 Hz
¾¾The cause of dispersion is the
change in speed of light with wavelength in dispersive Violet 4000 Å to 4460 Å 7.5 – 6.73
medium. When white light enters the first surface of a Indigo 4460 Å to 4640 Å 6.73 – 6.47
prism, light of different colours due to their different Blue 4640 Å to 5000 Å 6.47 – 6.01
speeds in the glass gets deviated toward the base of Green 5000 Å to 5780 Å 6.01 – 5.19
prism through different angles.
Yellow 5780 Å to 5920 Å 5.19 – 5.07
¾¾Dispersion by a prism :
Orange 5920 Å to 6200 Å 5.07 – 4.84
Red 6200 Å to 8000 Å 4.84 – 3.75

¾¾The complete electromagnetic spectrum in the increasing order of their wavelength (or decreasing order of their
frequency ) is given below:
(1) Gamma rays, (2) X-rays, (3) Ultraviolet rays, (4) Visible light, (5) infrared radiations, (6) Microwaves, and
(7) Radio waves.
Thus, infrared spectrum is the part of the spectrum just beyond the red end while the ultraviolet spectrum is the
part of the spectrum just before the violet end.
 Electromagnetic spectrum
Name of the wave Frequency in Hz Discoverer Source Method of detection
Gamma rays above 3 × 1019 Paul Villard In cosmic rays, In By their large
radiations from penetrating power
radioactive substances.
X-rays 3 × 1019 – 3 × 1016 Roentgen When highly energetic By the fluorescence
electrons are stopped produced on a zinc
by a heavy metal sulphide screen. The
target of high melting photographic film gets
point. affected.
Ultraviolet 3 × 1016 – 7.5 × 1014 Ritter Sunlight, arc-lamp or By their chemical
spark activity on dyes.
Photographic plates
get affected. It causes
fluorescence.
Visible light 7.5 × 1014 – 3.75 × 1014 Newton Sunlight, light from Other objects can be
electric bulb, flame, seen in its presence.
white hot bodies.
Infrared waves 3.75 × 1014 - 3 × 10112 Herschel Lamp with thoriated Heating effect is
filament, heated silicon more. The mercury
carbide rod, red hot rises rapidly when a
bodies thermometer with the
blackened bulb is kept
in these radiations.
Microwaves 3 × 10112 - 3 × 109 Hertz Electronic devices such Oscillatory electrical
as crystal oscillators circuit.
Radio waves below 3 × 109 Maxwell TV and radio Aerials of radio and TV
predicted the transmitters receiver.
existence of
radio waves.
● Properties common to all electromagnetic ● Uses of γ-rays are as follows :
spectrum : (i) They are used in the treatment of cancer and
(i) The electromagnetic waves of the entire tumours.
wavelength range do not require any material (ii) γ-rays are used to preserve the foodstuffs for a
medium for their propagation. long time.
(ii) They all travel with the same speed in vacuum (iii) It provides valuable information about the
which is the same as the speed of light in structure of the atomic nucleus.
vacuum i.e., 3 × 108 m/s. ¾¾X-rays
(iii) They exhibit the properties of reflection and X-rays, discovered by German physicist W Roentgen,
refraction. having a range of wavelength from 0.001 nm to 10nm.
(iv) These waves are not deflected by the electric They are produced when highly energetic cathode
and magnetic fields. rays are stopped by a heavy metal target of high
(v) These waves are transverse waves. melting point.
● Properties and uses of the electromagnetic ● Properties of X-rays are as follows :
spectrum :
(i) They have high penetrating power.
¾¾γ-rays (ii) They strongly affect the photographic plate.
These rays are the most energetic electromagnetic (iii) They cause fluorescence in certain material
waves of wavelength less than 0.001 nm. such as zinc sulphide, etc.
● Properties of γ-rays are as follows : ● Uses of X-ray are as follows :
(i) They cause fluorescence when they strike on (i) For detection of fracture, foreign bodies like
the fluorescent materials as zinc sulphide. bullets, stone in a human body, etc.
(ii) They can easily penetrate through the thick (ii) For detecting faults, cracks, flaws and holes in
metallic sheets. the final product of metals.
(iii) γ-rays can easily penetrate through the human (iii) For curing untraceable skin diseases and
body. malignant growths.
 (iv) For investigation of the structure of crystals, ● Uses of infrared radiation are as follows :
arrangement of atoms, etc. (i) They are used in photography at night and
¾¾Ultraviolet Radiation also in mist and fog.
It was discovered by Ritter in 1801. They are (ii) They are used for therapeutic purpose.
produced by some special lamps and very hot
bodies. Ultraviolet rays coming from the Sun (iii) They are used in remote control of TV and
are absorbed by the ozone layer in the Earth‘s other gadgets.
atmosphere. The wavelength range varies from (iv) They are used as signals during the war.
10 nm to 400 nm.
¾¾Microwaves
● Properties of ultraviolet radiation are as follows :
Microwaves are the electromagnetic waves of the
(i) They can pass through quartz but are absorbed
by glass. wavelength having a range of 10–3 m to 0.3 m.
(ii) They can be scattered by dust particles in the They are produced by special vacuum tubes.
atmosphere. ● Uses of microwaves are as follows :
(iii) They cause health hazards like skin cancer, if (i) They are used for aircraft navigation.
our body is exposed for a long period of time.
(ii) They are used for cooking purposes.
● Uses of ultraviolet radiation are as follows :
(iii) They are used for observing the movement of
(i) For sterilizing purposes.
trains while sitting in a microwave operated
(ii) For detecting the purity of gold, eggs, ghee, etc.
control room.
(iii) For producing vitamin D in food of plants and
animals. ¾¾Radiowaves
¾¾Visible Light These are the waves of longest wavelength
It is the narrow region of the electromagnetic amongst all the electromagnetic waves. They
spectrum which can be detected by the human have a wavelength above 0.1 m. They show all the
eyes. Its wavelength ranges from 390 nm to 700 nm. properties of electromagnetic waves.
¾¾Uses of visible light are as follows: ● Uses of radiowaves are as follows :
(i) The visible light emitted or reflected from the object (i) It is used in ground wave propagation.
around us provides the information surrounding us. (ii) It is used in sky wave propagation.
(ii) It is used in photography, photosynthesis and to (iii) They are used mainly in radar communication
see objects around us.
and television transmission.
¾¾Infrared Radiation
It was discovered by Herschel. They are sometimes
called heat wave, because their absorption causes
the heating effect in the bodies and surroundings.
They are produced by hot bodies and molecules. Its
range is from 700 nm to 1 mm.
● Properties of infrared radiation are as follows :
(i) They do not affect ordinary photographic film.
(ii) They are absorbed by the glass but are not
absorbed by rock salt.
(iii) They are detected by their heating property.
(iv) They are less scattered by the atmosphere.