OPTICS — Complete Chapter Notes

Class 12 Physics | JEE Main & Advanced | Based on JEE Wallah lecture by Neeraj Kumar Chaudhary

This document follows the exact topic order of the lecture. Points marked "➕ Extra" are additions beyond
the video — useful derivations, edge cases, and JEE tricks.

1. Plane Mirror
● A plane mirror forms an image by regular reflection; the image is virtual, erect, and laterally inverted.
● Image distance behind the mirror = Object distance in front of the mirror.

Laws of Reflection: ∠i = ∠r (incident, reflected ray, and normal lie in

● Size of image = Size of object (lateral magnification = 1).

the same plane)

Rotation of Mirror & Ray

● If a mirror is rotated by angle θ (keeping incident ray fixed), the reflected ray rotates by 2θ.

Deviation of ray by plane mirror: δ = 180° − 2i

● If the incident ray is rotated by angle θ (mirror fixed), the reflected ray also rotates by θ (same direction).

➕ Extra (not in video): This 2θ rule is heavily tested — remember it's the mirror's rotation that gets doubled, not the
ray's.

Image Tracing (Plane Mirror)

● To locate the image of an extended object, drop perpendiculars from each point to the mirror and extend
equally behind it.
● For inclined mirrors, use the '2θ rotation' rule repeatedly to trace multiple reflections.

Number of Images (Two Inclined Mirrors)

n = (360°/θ) − 1, when 360°/θ is an even integer
n = (360°/θ) − 1 or (360°/θ) [both counted] when 360°/θ is odd,
depending on object placement
● If 360°/θ is not an integer, take the integer part (floor value) as the number of images.
● Special cases: θ = 90° → 3 images; θ = 60° → 5 images; two parallel mirrors (θ = 0°) → infinite images.
Note: Whether the odd case gives n or n−1 depends on whether the object lies on the bisector of the angle between
mirrors — check symmetry before finalizing.

Size of Mirror & Velocity of Image

● Minimum length of plane mirror needed for a person of height h to see their full image = h/2, positioned
with its midpoint at the height midway between eye level and feet.
● This minimum length is independent of the distance between the person and the mirror.
 Velocity of image relative to ground = Velocity of object relative to
ground, but component ⊥ to mirror gets reversed in sign; component ∥
to mirror stays same
● If the mirror itself moves with velocity v_m (⊥ to its plane), image velocity: v_I = 2v_m − v_O (along the
normal direction).
➕ Extra (not in video): For a mirror moving with velocity v_m and object with v_O, both taken positive along the
outward normal: v_image = 2v_m − v_O. This is a very common JEE numerical.

2. Spherical Mirror
● Two types: Concave (converging, reflecting surface curves inward) and Convex (diverging, reflecting
surface curves outward).
● Pole (P): center of mirror surface. Centre of curvature (C): center of the sphere. Focus (F): midpoint of P

f = R/2 (focal length = half the radius of curvature)

and C.

Mirror Formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f

● Sign convention (Cartesian): distances measured from pole; direction of incident light taken as positive;
heights above principal axis positive.
● For concave mirror: f is negative. For convex mirror: f is positive (as per Cartesian sign convention with
incident light along negative direction convention used in most JEE books — always state which
convention you're using).
Note: Different textbooks flip the sign convention direction — always double check which one your source uses
before applying to a numerical.

Magnification
m = −v/u = −(f)/(u−f) = (f−v)/f = h_image/h_object

Longitudinal magnification (small object along axis): m_L = −(dv/du) =

● Negative m → real, inverted image. Positive m → virtual, erect image.

m² (transverse)
Areal magnification: m_A = m² (for a small 2D object)
➕ Extra (not in video): Longitudinal magnification is NOT simply m — it equals m² only for small objects/small
displacements along the axis. This distinction is a frequent JEE trap.

Velocity of Image in Spherical Mirror

Differentiate mirror formula: v_image = −(v²/u²) · v_object (velocities
along principal axis)
● v_image and v_object here are rates of change of image/object distance with time.
● For velocity components perpendicular to principal axis: v_(image,⊥) = m · v_(object, ⊥) (transverse
magnification applies directly).
➕ Extra (not in video): Newton's mirror formula as an alternative: XY = f², where X, Y are object and image
distances measured from focus — useful for quick velocity problems.
3. Refraction

Snell's Law: n₁ sin i = n₂ sin r

● Bending of light when it passes from one medium to another due to change in speed of light.

Refractive index: n = c/v = speed of light in vacuum / speed of light in

medium
Apparent depth: Real depth / Apparent depth = n (for near-normal
viewing)
Shift due to slab: Δ = t(1 − 1/n), where t = thickness of slab
● Refraction through multiple slabs: apparent shift is additive; total apparent depth = Σ(tᵢ/nᵢ) seen from the
rarer medium.

Total Internal Reflection (TIR) & Glass Slab

Critical angle: sin C = n₂/n₁ (n₁ > n₂, light going from denser to rarer
medium)
● Conditions for TIR: (1) light must travel from denser to rarer medium, (2) angle of incidence must exceed
the critical angle C.

Lateral shift: d = t · sin(i−r) / cos r

● In a glass slab, emergent ray is parallel to incident ray (lateral shift occurs, no deviation in direction).

➕ Extra (not in video): Applications of TIR worth knowing: optical fibers, mirage formation, sparkle of diamonds
(critical angle ≈ 24.4°), and totally reflecting prisms in binoculars.

4. Prism
i + e = A + δ (A = prism angle, δ = angle of deviation)
At minimum deviation: i = e, r₁ = r₂ = A/2
n = sin[(A+δ_min)/2] / sin(A/2)
● Deviation is minimum when the ray passes symmetrically through the prism.
● Condition for no emergence (TIR inside prism): if A > 2C, light cannot emerge from the second face for
any angle of incidence.

Thin Prism
δ = (n−1)A (for small angle prism, A ≤ 10°, independent of angle of
incidence)
➕ Extra (not in video): For a thin prism, deviation does NOT depend on the angle of incidence — a key
simplification vs. the general prism case.
Dispersion of Light
● Splitting of white light into its constituent colors (VIBGYOR) due to different refractive indices for

Angular dispersion: θ = δ_v − δ_r = (n_v − n_r)A

different wavelengths (n_violet > n_red).

Dispersive power: ω = (n_v − n_r)/(n_y − 1) = θ/δ_y

● Combination of prisms for dispersion without deviation, or deviation without dispersion, is a classic multi-

Condition for no dispersion (achromatic combination): A₁(n₁ᵥ−n₁ᵣ) =

prism problem.

A₂(n₂ᵥ−n₂ᵣ)
Condition for no deviation (direct vision combination): A₁(n₁ᵧ−1) =
A₂(n₂ᵧ−1)
➕ Extra (not in video): These two combination formulas (achromatic vs. direct-vision prism) rarely get full
coverage in shorter lectures but are a favorite in JEE Advanced.

5. Lens
Lens Maker's Formula: 1/f = (n−1)(1/R₁ − 1/R₂)
Thin Lens Formula: 1/v − 1/u = 1/f
Magnification: m = v/u = f/(f+u) = (f−v)/f

Lens (Combination) Power: P = 1/f (in metres), net power of lenses in

● Convex (converging) lens: f positive. Concave (diverging) lens: f negative.

contact: P = P₁ + P₂ + P₃ + ...
For lenses separated by distance d: 1/F = 1/f₁ + 1/f₂ − d/(f₁f₂)

Image Tracing (Lens)

● Three standard rays used to trace images: (1) parallel to axis → refracts through focus, (2) through optical
centre → undeviated, (3) through focus → emerges parallel to axis.

Cutting of Lens
● Lens cut along principal axis (into two halves, top-bottom): each half is still a complete lens of the same
focal length f, but gathers less light (dimmer image).
● Lens cut perpendicular to principal axis (into two halves by a plane through the pole): each half has a

For a symmetric convex lens cut perpendicular to axis: f_half = 2f (each

different focal length, given by 1/f = (n−1)(1/R₁ − 1/R₂) applied to the flat + curved surface combination.

piece)
➕ Extra (not in video): A common conceptual trap: cutting along the axis does NOT change focal length; cutting
perpendicular to the axis DOES change it. Many students mix these up.
Silvering of Lens & Displacement Method
● When one face of a lens is silvered, it behaves as an equivalent mirror combining lens refraction (twice)

Equivalent focal length (silvered lens): 1/F = 1/f_lens + 1/f_lens +

with mirror reflection (once).

1/f_mirror = 2/f_lens + 1/f_mirror

● Sign of f_mirror depends on which surface is silvered (plane or curved) and the curvature of that surface.

Displacement Method (finding f of convex lens using a bench)

● For object and screen separated by fixed distance D (D > 4f), there are two lens positions separated by

f = (D² − d²) / (4D)

distance d that form a sharp image.

Ratio of image sizes in the two positions: I₁·I₂ = O² (object size =

geometric mean of the two image sizes)
➕ Extra (not in video): The displacement method is a standard experiment-based JEE question — remember D > 4f
is required for two real positions to exist.

6. Refraction at Spherical Surfaces

n₂/v − n₁/u = (n₂ − n₁)/R
● R is positive if centre of curvature is on the outgoing (refracted) side of the surface, negative otherwise —

Lateral magnification: m = (n₁·v)/(n₂·u)

consistent with the Cartesian sign convention used throughout.

● Apparent depth (special case, plane surface, R → ∞): reduces to n₁/u = n₂/v, i.e., apparent depth = real
depth × (n₂/n₁).
➕ Extra (not in video): Spherical refracting surfaces combine with the Lens Maker's Formula: applying the surface
formula twice (once per lens surface) and eliminating the intermediate image derives 1/f = (n−1)(1/R₁−1/R₂) from
first principles — good to know for derivation-based questions.

Quick Formula Sheet

Topic Key Formula
Mirror rotation Reflected ray rotates by 2θ for mirror rotation θ
No. of images (inclined mirrors) n = 360°/θ − 1 (even case)
Min. mirror length L = h/2
Mirror formula 1/v + 1/u = 1/f, f = R/2
Mirror magnification m = −v/u
Snell's law n₁ sin i = n₂ sin r
Apparent depth Real depth/Apparent depth = n
Critical angle sin C = n₂/n₁
Lateral shift (slab) d = t·sin(i−r)/cos r
Prism deviation i+e=A+δ
 Prism (min. deviation) n = sin[(A+δmin)/2]/sin(A/2)
Thin prism δ = (n−1)A
Dispersive power ω = (nᵥ−nᵣ)/(n_y−1)
Lens maker's formula 1/f = (n−1)(1/R₁−1/R₂)
Lens formula 1/v − 1/u = 1/f
Combined lens power P = P₁+P₂+P₃+...
Displacement method f = (D²−d²)/4D
Spherical surface refraction n₂/v − n₁/u = (n₂−n₁)/R

Note: This sheet is a quick-revision aid — always re-derive sign conventions in context of the specific problem's
setup.