Page 1

CPP-8 Class - XI Batches - PHONON

PRISM
1. A ray of light is incident at angle i on a surface of a prism of small angle A & emerges normally from the opposite
surface. If the refractive index of the material of the prism is , the angle of incidence i is nearly equal to :
(A) A/ (B) A/(2 ) (C*) A (D) A/2
Sol. i =i
i
A

90
90
A
r =A
1 sin i = sin r
sin i = sin A
For small angle
i = A
2. Find the angle of deviation suffered by the light rays shown in figure for following two
condition the refractive index for the prism material is =3/2.
(i) When the prism is placed in air ( =1)
3
(ii) When the prism is placed in water ( =4/3)
Ans. [(i) 1.5; (ii)
3
8
]
Sol. i =3 =
3
180
t
=
60
t
3
90
i
i
r
30
o =r i
For small angles =sin u ~ u
r =sin r
i =sin i
(i) Prism is in air

3
2
sin i =1 sin r
r =i
3
2
=
3
60 2
t

=
40
t
o =r i =
40 60
t t

=
120
t
=
180
120
=
3
2
=1.5
o =1.5
(ii) Prism is in water

3
2
sin i =
4
3
sin r
sin r =
3 3
2 4

sin i
r =
9
8 60
t

=
3
160
t
o =r i =
3
160 60
t t

=
480
t
=
180
480
=
3
8
o =
3
8
Ans.
Page 2
3. A prism of refractive index 2 has refracting angle 60. Answer the following questions
(i) In order that a ray suffers minimum deviation it should be incident at an angle :
(A*) 45 (B) 90 (C) 30 (D) None
(ii) Angle of minimum deviation is :
(A) 45 (B) 90 (C*) 30 (D) None
(iii) Angle of maximum deviation is :
(A) 45 (B) sin
1
( 2 sin 15) (C*) 30 +sin
1
( 2 sin 15) (D) None
Sol.
r
1
r
2
i
1
i
2
60
r
1
+r
2
=60
(i) For minimum deviation
r
1
r
2
=
60
2

=30
1 sin i
1
= 2 sin 30
i
1
=45 Ans.
(ii) at minimum deviation : r
1
=r
2
and i
1
=i
2
o
min
=(i
1
+i
2
) (r
1
+r
2
)
=(45 +45) 60
=90 60
o
min
=30 Ans.
(iii) For maximum deviation : emergent ray should become parallel to emergent surface, for that :
r
2
=u
c
=sin
1

1
2
| |
|
\ .
=45
r
1
=60 45 =15
1 sin i
1
= 2 sin (15)
i
1
=sin
1
( 2 sin 15)
and i
2
=90
o
max
=i
1
+i
2
A
=sin
1
( 2 sin 15) +90 60
o
max
=30 +sin
1
( 2 sin 15) Ans.
4. At what values of the refractive index of a rectangular prism can a ray travel as shown in figure.
The section of the prism is an isosceles triangle & the ray is normally incident onto the face
AC.
A
B C
Ans. [n >
2
]
Sol. 45>u
c
A
B C
45
sin 45>sin u
c
1
2
>
1
n
n > 2
5. The cross section of a glass prism has the form of an equilateral triangle. A ray is incident onto one of the faces
perpendicular to it. Find the angle u between the incident ray and the ray that leaves the prism. The refractive index of
glass is =1.5.
Ans. [u =60]
Page 3
Sol. sin u
c
=
2
3
<0.86
60
60
60
60
60 60
30
r
(1)
(2)
1.5
90
u>u
c
Angle between ray (1) and (2) is 60 as shown in figure.
6. A prism having refractive index 2 and refracting angle 30, has one of the refracting surfaces polished. A beam of
light incident on the other refracting surface will retrace its path if the angle of incidence is :
(A) 0 (B) 30 (C*) 45 (D) 60
Sol. 1 sin u = 2 sin 3u
30
30
sin u =
1
2
u=45
7. A prism (n =2) of apex angle 90 is placed in air (n =1). What should be the angle of incidence so that light ray strikes
the second surface at an angle of incidence 60.
Ans. [90]
Sol. sin i = sin 30
sin i =2
1
2
60
30
30
60
i
i =
i =90
8. Light is incident normally on face AB of a prism as shown in figure. A
liquid of refractive index is placed on face AC of the prism. The prism is
made of glass of refractive index 3/2. The limits of for which total internal
reflection takes place on face AC is :
(A) >
2
3
(B*) <
4
3 3
(C) > 3 (D) <
2
3
Sol.
3/ 2

| |
|
\ .
=
1
sinC
= 3/2
3
2
30
60
3/2

=
3 3
4
C
3 3
4
9. The wavelength of light in vacuum is 6000 and in a medium it is 4000 . The refractive index of the medium is :
(A) 2.4 (B*) 1.5 (C) 1.2 (D) 0.67
Sol. =
6000
4000
=1.5
10. Ref. index of a prism (A =60) placed in air (n =1) is n =15.
(i) If light ray is incident on this prism at an angle of 60. Find the angle of deviation. State whether this is a minimum
deviation.
(ii) A light ray emerges from the prism at the same angle as it is incident on it. Determine the angle by which the rays
is deflected from its initial direction as a result of its passage through the prism :
Given : sin
1

1
3
=30, sin
1
0.4 =25, sin
1
0.6 =37.
Ans. [(i) 37, This deviation is not minimum; (ii) 38 =o
m
=2 sin
1
(3/4) 60]
Page 4
Sol.
1
sin60
sinr
=1.5
sin r
1
=
3
2
=
1
3
r
1
=sin
1

1
3
| |
|
\ .
60
60
r
1
r
2
120
e
i
2
=(60 r
1
)
sin e =1.5 +sin (60 r
1
)
=1.5 (sin 60 cosr
1
cos60 sin r
1
)
sine =
2 6 3
4 3
e =sin
1
(0.4) =25
o =i +e A
=60 +25 60
i = e, hence this is not minimum deviation.
Page 5
1. A beam of white light is incident on hollow prism of glass. Then :
(A*) The light emerging from prism gives no dispersion
(B) The light emerging from prism gives spectrum but the bending of all colours is
away from base
(C) The light emerging from prism gives spectrum, all the colours bend towards base,
the violet the most and red the least
(D) The light emerging from prism gives spectrum, all the colours bend towards base,
the violet the least and red the most.
Sol. Surface and hollow prism behaves like slabs thus there is no disperism.
2. A triangular glass wedge is lowered into water ( =4/3). The refractive
index of glass is
g
=1.5. At what angle o will the beam of light normally
incident on AB reach AC entirely ?
Ans. [o >sin
1
8
9
]
Sol. o >u
C
o >sin
1
4/3
3/ 2
| |
|
\ .
=sin
1
8
a
| |
|
\ .
3. For a prism of apex angle 45, it is found that the angle of emergence is 45 for grazing incidence. Calculate the
refractive index of the prism :
(A) (2)
1/2
(B) (3)
1/2
(C) 2 (D*) (5)
1/2
Sol. r
1
+r
2
=A =45
45

r
1
=u
C
r
2
=45 u
C
sin r
2
=sin (45 u
C
)
sin r
2
=sin i
2
=
1
2
sin r
2
=
1
2
and sin u
C
=
1

1
2
=sin 45 cosu
C
cos 45 sin u
C
1

=
2
1
1

| |
|
\ .

1

=
2
1
1

2
4

=1 2
1

= (5)
1/2
PRISM
CPP-9 Class - XI Batches - PHONON
Page 6
4. The maximum refractive index of a material, of a prism of apex angle 90, for which light will be transmitted is :
(A) 3 (B) 1.5 (C*) 2 (D) None of these
Sol. r
1
=r
2
=u
C
r
1
+r
2
=A =90
90
90
90
r
1
r
2
So, r
1
=r
2
=45 =u
C
sinu
C
=
1
n
=
1
2
n =
2
5. A prism of refractive index n
1
and another prism of refractive index n
2
are stuck together without a gap as shown in the figure. The angles of
the prisms are as shown, n
1
and n
2
depend on , the wavelength of light
according to n
1
=1.20 +
4
2
10.8 10

and n
2
=1.45 +
4
2
1.80 10

where
is in nm.
A B
D
C
70
60
40
20
n
2
n
1
(i) calculate the wavelength
0
for which rays incident at any on the interface BC pass through without bending at
the interference.
Ans. [
0
=600 nm, n =1.5]
Sol. n
1
=1.2 +
4
2
10.8 10

and n
2
=1.45 +
4
2
1.8 10

the incident ray will not deviate at BC if

n
1
=n
2
4
2
0
9 10

=0.25 l
0
=600 nm
n =1.5
6. A parallel beam of light is incident on the upper part of a prism of angle 1.8 & R.I.
3/2. The light coming out of the prism falls on a concave mirror of radius of
curvature 20 cm. The distance of the point (where the rays are focused after
reflection from the mirror) from the principal axis is :
(A) 9 cm
(B*) 1.5 7 mm
(C) 3.14 mm
(D) None of these
Sol. o =( 1) A =0.9 =0.9
180
t
rod
(10 )
y
cm
=
0.9
180
t | |

|
\ .
y=0.9
180
t
10 cm
y =1.57 mm
7. The refractive indices of the crown glass for blue and red lights are 1.51 & 1.49 respectively and those of the flint glass
are 1.77 & 1.73 respectively. An isosceles prism of angle 6 is made of crown glass. A beam of whitelight is incident at
a small angle on this prism. The other flint glass isosceles prism is combined with the crown glass prism such that there
is no deviation of the incident light. Determine the angle of the flint glass prism. Calculate the net dispersion of the
combined system. Ans. [A =4, u =0.04]
Sol. For croun glass For flirit glass
Croun glass
flirit glass
A
60
blue
=1.51
blue
=1.77

red
=1.49
red
=1.73
Page 7

y
=
1.51 1.49
2
+
=1.5
y
=
1.77 1.73
2
+
=1.75
A
Al
=
1
1
'
y
y

=1+
3
4
A
Al
=
7
1
4
1.51
=
7
4
6
Al
=
3/ 4
1/ 2
=
3 2
4

=
3
2
A' =
6 2
3

=4
Net dispersion if system is
o
v
o
r
=(
v

r
)A ('
v
'
r
)A'
=(0.02)6 (0.04)4
=0.12 0.16
=0.04
8. An equilaterial prism is kept on a horizontal surface. A typical ray of light PQRS is shown
in the figure. For minimum deviation :
Q
P
R
S (A) The ray PQ must be horizontal
(B) The ray RS must be horizontal
(C*) The ray QR must be horizontal
(D) Any one of them can be horizontal
Sol. For minimum
R
P
S
60
60 60
Q
u =30
So, (1)
1
=(1)
2
Hence uR is || to box.
9. The faces of prism ABCD made of glass with a refractive Index n from dihedral angles
Z A =90, Z B =75, Z C =135 & Z D =60 (The Abbe's prism). A beam of light falls on face
AB & after total internal reflection from face BC escapes through face AD. Find the range of
n and angle of incidence o of the beam onto face AB, if a beam that has passed through the
prism in this manner is perpendicular to the incident beam.
A
B
C
D
Ans. [r +u =75; u =45 (geometry), c <45 2 >n > 2, 45 <o <90 (snell's law)]
Sol. EBFH ZEHF =180 =75 =105
AEHF r +u +105 =180 u +r =75
CDGF 135 +60 +90 +r +90 u =360 u r =15
u =45 r =30
Let C =Critical angle So u >C
C <45
sinC <sin45
1
n
<
1
2
n > 2
75
135
60
90
105
90
90+r
r
r
H
E
G
(90 )
A D
C
B
Snell's law
1 sin o =n sin r =n +sin 30 =
2
n
sino =
2
n
2sin o =n > 2
n
max
=2sino =2sin 90
Page 8
n
max
=2
sin o >
1
2
o >45
Range of o 45 <o <90
Range of n 2 <n <2
10. A given ray of light suffers minimum deviation in an equilateral prism P. Additional prisms Q and R of identical shape
and of same material as P are now added as shown in the figure. The ray will now suffer :
(A) Greater deviation
P
Q
R
(B) No deviation
(C*) Same deviation as before
(D) Total internal reflection
Sol. Two prism in pair will cancel effect of each other and third will give same deviation.
Page 9
1. A ray of light in air is incident on face AB of an irregular block made of
material with refractive index 2 , as shown in figure. The face CD
opposite to AB is a spherical surface of radius of curvature 0.4 m. From
this face the refracted ray enters a medium of refractive index 1.514 and
meets the axis PQ at point E. Determine the distance OE correct to two
decimal places.
45
60
B D
Q P
E
O
C A
n=1
n=1.514
n= 2
Ans. [OE =6.06 m]
Sol. applying Snell's law at AB 1 sin 45 =
2
sin u
u =30
ZBMN = 90 +u =120
ZDBM + ZBMN =60 +120 =180 therefore MN || BD
45
60
B D
Q P
E
O
C A
n=1
n=1.514 n= 2
M
90
N
Refraction curved surface CD.
1.514
( ) OE +

2
( )
=
1.514 2
( 40) +

1.514
OE
O =
1.5141.414
40
=
0.1
40
=
1
400
OE =1.514 400 =605.6 cm
OE =6.06 m
2. A glass prism with a refracting angle of 60 has a refractive index 1.52 for red and 1.6 for violet light. A parallel beam of
white light is incident on one face at an angle of incidence, which gives minimum deviation for red light. Find.
(a) The angle of incidence
(b) Angular width of the spectrum
(c) The length of the spectrum if it is focussed on a screen by lens of focal length 100 cm.
[Use : sin (49.7) =0.760; sin (31.6) =0.520; sin (28.4) =0.475; sin (56) =0.832; t =22/7]
Ans. [(a) 49.7; (b) 7.27; (c) f u =12.68 cm]
Sol. (a) For red.
At o
min
r =
2
A
=
60
2
=30
sin i = sin r =1.52 sin30 =0.76
i =49.7 Ans.
(b) For red:
1 sin(49.7) =1.52 sinr
1
r
1
=30
r
2
=60 r
1
=60 30 =30
1.52 sin3 =1 sine e =49.7
o
red
=i +e A =49.7 +49.7 60 =39.4
For violet :
1 sin 49.7 =1.6 sin r
1
r
1
=sin
1

0.76
1.6
| |
|
\ .
r
1
=sin
1
(0.475) =28.4
r
2
=60 r
1
=60 28.4 =31.6
PRISM
CPP-1 0 Class - XI Batches - PHONON
Page 10
1 sine =1.6 sin r
2
=1.6 sin 31.6 - 0.838
e =sin
1
(0.838) =56.97
o
violet
=i +e A =49.7 +56.97 60 =46.67
Angular width of spectrum
u =o
violet
o
red
=46.67 39.4
u =7.27
(c) length =f u
=(100)
7.27
180
t | |

|
\ .
cm
=12.68 cm
3. In an experiment performed with a 60 prism where angle of minimum deviation for sodium light is 60 in air. The
following experiment was done. When sodium light enters at one face at grazing incidence from a certain liquid, it
emerges from the other face (in air) at 60 from the normal to edge of the prism. Are the observations correct ?
Ans. [No]
Sol. =
sin
2
sin
2
A+ o | |
|
\ .
o
=
sin60
sin30
=
3
For energing at 60,
60
60
50
i
3
sin60 =
3
sin i
sin i =
1
2
i =30
C =30 sin 90

l
=
3
2
(not possible)
4. The following figure represents a wavefront AB which passes
from air to another transparent medium and produces a new
wavefront CD after refraction. The refractive index of the
medium is (PQ is the boundary between air and the medium) :
(A)
1
4
cos
cos
u
u
(B)
4
1
cos
cos
u
u

(C*)
1
4
sin
sin
u
u
(D)
2
3
sin
sin
u
u
Sol. =
BD
AC
=
1
4
sin
sin
AD
AD
u
u
=
1
4
sin
sin
u
u
5. In the figure two triangular prisms are shown each of refractive index 3.
(a) Find the angle of incidence on the face AB for minimum deviation from the
prism ABC ?
(b) Find the angle through which the prism DCE should be rotated about the edge
passing through point C so that there should be minimum deviation from the
system ?
i
A
B
C
E
D
60 60
60 60
Ans. [(a) i =60, (b) 60]
Page 11
Sol. For minimum deviation
i
60
r
1
r
2
30
e
i =e
r
1
=r
2
=
180120
2
r
1
=30 =r
2
Thus sin i =4 sin r
1
sin i =
3

1
2
i =60
For minimum deviation but both lens together to radius the deviation to zero.
60
6. In the figure ABC is the cross section of a right angled prism and BCDE is the cross
section of a glass slab. The value of u so that light incident normally on the face AB does
not cross the face BC is (given sin
1
(3/5) =37) :
(A) u s 37 (B*) u <37
(C) u s 53 (D) u <53
Sol. Boundary conditions
C =90 u
C
sin C =cos u

6/5
3/ 2
=cosu
cos u =4/5
or sin u =3/5
u =37
For T.I.R., u <37
7. The refractive index of a prism is . the maximum angle of the prism for which a ray incident on it will be transmitted
through other face without total internal reflection is _________.
Ans. [
1 1
2sin

]
Sol. A =r
1
+r
2
For A to be max r
1
and r
2
both should be more r
1
is max if light is incident on AB at angle and r
2
is max of light energy
at 90.
So for surface AB
1 sin 90 = sin r
1
sin r
1
=
1

r
1
=sin
1

1

A
r
2
r
1
B C
Similarly for surface AC
sinr
2
=
1

r
2
=sin
1

1

A =r
1
+r
2
A =o sin
1

1

| |
|
\ .
8. Two mirrors, placed perpendicularly, form two sides of a vessel filled
with water. A light ray is incident on the water surface at an angle o and
emerges at an angle | after getting reflected from both the mirrors inside.
The relation between o and | is expressed as :
(A*) o =|
(B) o >|
(C) o <|
(D) All are possible, depending upon o
Page 12
Sol.
45
45
90
90
90
A
B
C
D
E
F
r
From AABC From ADEF
90 | +45 +90 u =t 45 +| +90 +r =t
u +| =45...(1) | +r =45...(2)
From (1) and (2) we get
u =r
Hence
o =|
9. O is a point object kept on the principal axis of a concave mirror M
of radius of curvature 20 cm. P is a prism of angle o =1.8. Light
falling on the prism (at small angle of incidence) get refracted
through the prism and then fall on the mirror. Refractive index of
prism is 3/2. Find the distance between the images formed by the
concave mirror due to this light :
(A)
2
5
t
cm (B)
10
t
cm
(C*)
20
t
cm (D)
3
20
t
cm
Sol.
=1.8
O
1
O
2
10 cm 20 cm
Due to prism two images of object O, O
1
and O
2
an formed
Distance 6/n, O
1
, O
2
is [(2)(1)A]d
=
10
t
cm
Here if we take v = 30 cm
f = 10 cm
then by mirror fomula
1 1
v v
+
=
1
f
v = 15 cm
m =
v
u
=
15
30
=
0.1
2
Hence net length between I
1
and I
2
of object O
1
and O
2
respectively is
Page 13
I
1
I
2
=m(O
1
O
2
) =m
10
t
=
1
2

10
t
=
20
t
10. Light travelling in air falls at an incidence angle of 2 on one refracting surface of a prism of refractive index 1.5 and
angle of refraction 4. The medium on the other side is water (n =4/3). Find the deviation produced by the prism.
Ans. [1]
Sol. o
1
=i r
1
4
2
r
1
r
2
r
2
e
o
2
=e r
2
o =o
1
o
2
=i r
1
r
2
+e
=i +e r
1
r
2
o =2i 4
1sin2 =
3
2
sin r
1
2
2
180 3
t

=r
1
r
1
=
4
3 180
t

r
2
=A r
1
=
4
180
t

4
3180
t
=
8
3 180
t

3
2
sinr
2
=
4
3
sin e
9 8
8 3180
t

=e e =
3
180
t
So o=
5
180
t

4
180
t
=1