Question

The refractive index of the material of a prism is √2. If the refracting angle of the prism is 60°, find the (1) Angle of minimum deviation, and (2) Angle of incidence.

When a ray of light propagates from a denser medium to a rarer medium, it bends away from the normal. When the incident angle is increased, the refracted ray deviates more from the normal. For a particular angle of incidence in the denser medium, the refracted ray just grazes the interface of the two surfaces. This angle of incidence is called the critical angle for the pair of media involved.

Trace the path of a ray of light showing refraction through a triangular prism and hence obtain an expression for angle of deviation (δ) in terms of A, i and e, where symbols have their usual meanings. Draw a graph showing the variation of angle of deviation with the angle of incidence.

In the figure, a ray of light is incident on a transparent liquid contained in a thin glass box at an angle of 45° with its one face. The emergent ray passes along the face AB. Find the refractive index of the liquid.