REFRACTION OF LIGHT

The bending of light when it passes from one medium to another

medium is known as refraction of light.
Refraction of light takes place at the boundary of two medium.
The refraction of light takes place due to different in speed of light
in different media.
TERMS RELATED TO REFRACTION OF LIGHT
Incident rays: The ray of light which falls on the surface is called
incident ray.
Point of incidence: The point at which the incident ray strikes the
surface is called point of incidence (O).
Refracted ray: The ray of light which bends after refraction is called refracted ray.
Normal: The perpendicular drawn at the point of incidence is called normal.
Angle of incidence: The angle between incident ray & normal is called angle of
incidence.
It is represented by ∠i.
Angle of refraction: The angle between refracted ray & normal is called angle of
refraction.
It is represented by ∠r.
Optically rarer medium: The medium in which speed of light is more is known as
optically rarer medium.

Optically denser medium: The medium in which speed of light is less is known as
optically denser medium.
Case1: If ray of light passes from rarer medium to denser medium, it
bends towards the normal.
In this case ∠i > ∠r
Case2: When a ray of light passes from denser medium to
rarer medium, it bends away from the normal.
In this case ∠i < ∠r
Refraction of light through parallel glass slab:

If a ray of light
falls on parallel glass slab it bends towards the normal and when it finally comes out
from the glass slab it bends away from the normal. The final ray of light which
emergence out is known as emergent ray and is parallels to incident ray when
produced.
The angle between emergent ray & normal is known as angle of emergence and is
denoted by ‘∠e’.
 The perpendicular distance between emergent ray and incident ray produce is known as
lateral displacement.
Some effects of refraction of light:
A stick held optically and partially in water appears to be bend at the surface.
Objects placed under water appear to be raised.
A pool of water appears to be less deep.
Stars twinkles at clear night.
Lemon kept in water in a glass appears to be bigger than its actual size when viewed
from side.

A stick partially and optically immersed in water appears to be

bend:

Objects placed under water appear to be raised.

A pool of water appears to be less deep

Law of refraction of light

According to law of refraction of light:-
The incident ray, refracted ray &
normal at the point of incidence all lie on the same plane.
The ratio of sine of angle of
incidence to the sine of angle of refraction is constant for a
given media.
 The value of the constant for a ray of light passing from
air into a particular medium is called refractive index of that medium.
Since the refractive index is a ratio of two similar quantities,
it has no SI unit.
The refractive index of a medium gives an indication of the
light-bending ability of that medium.
Ques. A beam of light passes from air into a substance X. If the angle of incidence be
720 and angle of refraction be 400, calculate the refractive index of substance X. (Given:
sin720= 0.951 & sin400=0.642)
Ans: 1.48
Refractive Index and speed of light
The refractive index can also be written as a ratio of speeds of light
in the two media.
The refractive index of medium 2 with respect to medium 1 is equal
to the ratio of speed of light in medium 1 to the speed of light in
medium 2.
medium1ᶙmedium2 =

1ᶙ2 =
When light is going from one medium (other than vacuum or air) to another medium,
then the value of refractive index is called relative refractive index.
When light is going from vacuum or air to another medium, then the value of refractive
index is called absolute refractive index.
The ratio of speed of light in vacuum or air to the speed of
light in a medium, is called the refractive index of that medium.
By saying that the refractive index of glass is 1.5 we mean
that the ratio of the speed of light in air or vacuum to the speed of light in glass is equal
to 1.5
Ques. Light enters from air into a glass plate having refractive index 1.50. What is the
speed of light in glass?
Ans. 2x108m/s.
Refractive Index of some common substances
Substance (or medium) Refractive Index
Air 1.0003
Ice 1.31
Water 1.33
Alcohol 1.36
Kerosene 1.44
Glass 1.52
Diamond 2.42
If any two media are optically exactly same, then no bending
occurs when light passes from one medium to another.
A substance having higher refractive index is optically
denser than the substance having lower refractive index.
Higher the refractive index of a substance, more it will
change the direction of beam of light passing through it.
 Note: Optical density of a substance is different from its mass density.
The refractive index for light going from medium1 to
medium2 is equal to the reciprocal of the refractive index for light going from medium2 to
medium1
1ᶙ 2

Ques.1 If the refractive index of water for light going from air to water be 1.33, what
will be the refractive index for light going from water to air?
Ans: 0.75
Ques2. The refractive indices of kerosene, turpentine and water are 1.44,1.47 and 1.33,
respectively. In which of these materials does light travel fastest?
Ques3. Which has higher refractive index : water or glass?
Ques4. Define Snell’s law of refraction. A ray of light is incident on a glass slab at an angle of
incidence of 60°. If the angle of refraction be 32.7°, calculate the refractive index of
glass.
(Given : sin 60° = 0.866, and sin 32.7° = 0.540)
Ans: 1.60
Ques5. The speed of light in vacuum and in two different glasses is given in the table
below:
(a) Calculate the absolute refractive indexes of flint glass and crown glass.
(b) Calculate the relative refractive index for light going from crown glass to flint glass.
Medium Speed of light
Vacuum 3.00 × 108 m/s
Flint glass 1.86 × 108 m/s
Crown 1.97 × 108 m/s
glass
Ans: (a) Flint glass: 1.61; Crown glass: 1.52 (b) 1.059
Ques6. Refractive indices of water, sulphuric acid, glass and carbon disulphide are 1.33, 1.43,
1.53 and 1.63 respectively. The light travels slowest in:
(a) sulphuric acid (b) glass (c) water (d)carbon
disulphide
Ques7. The refractive indexes of four substances P, Q, R and S are 1.77, 1.50, 2.42 and 1.31
respectively. When light travelling in air is incident on these substances at equal angles,
the angle of refraction will be the maximum in:
(a) Substance P (b) substance Q (c) substance R (d)
substance S
Ques8. The refractive indices of four substances P, Q, R and S are 1.50, 1.36, 1.77 and 1.31
respectively. The speed of light is the maximum in the substance:
(a) P (b) Q (c) R (d) S
Ques 9. The refractive indices of four materials A, B, C and D are 1.33, 1.43, 1.71 and 1.52
respectively. When the light rays pass from air into these materials, they refract the
maximum in :
(a) material A (b) material B (c) material C (d)
material D
 3
Ques 10. The refractive index of glass for light going from air to glass is . The refractive
2
index for light going from glass to air will be:
1 4 4 5
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 5 6 2
Ques11. The refractive indices of four media A, B, C and D are 1.44, 1.52, 1.65 and 1.36
respectively. When light travelling in air is incident in these media at equal angles, the
angle of refraction will be the minimum:
(a) in medium A (b) in medium B (c) in medium C (d) in
medium D
Ques 12. The speed of light in substance X is 1.25 × 108 m/s and that in air is 3 × 108 m/s. The
refractive index of this substance will be:
(a) 2.4 (b) 0.4 (c) 4.2 (d) 3.75

Refraction of light through spherical lens.

Lens: - A lens is a piece of transparent glass bound by two spherical
surfaces. There are two types of lens:
i. Concave lens ii. Convex lens.
Concave lens: Lens which is thinner in middle and
thicker at edge is called concave lens.
It is also known as diverging lens.
Convex lens: Lens which are thicker in middle and
thinner at edge are called convex lens.
It is also known as converging lens.
Terms related to spherical lens:
Optical Centre:- The centre of the spherical lens is known as optical centre.
It is represented by ‘O’
Principal axis: The principal axis of a lens is a line passing through the optical
centre of the lens and perpendicular to both the faces of the
lens.
Principal focus:
For Convex lens: A ray of light parallel to principal
axis, after refraction passes through a point, that point
lies on principal axis and is known as principal focus.
It is denoted by ‘f’.
It has real principal focus
Since convex lens converges
the parallel beam of light, so it is known as converging
lens.
For Concave lens: A ray of light parallel to principal axis, after refraction seems to
diverge from a point, that point lies on principal axis and is known as principal focus.
It is also denoted by ‘F’.
It has virtual principal focus and behind the lens.
Since it diverges parallel beam of light so it is also
known as diverging lens.
Ques. What is principal focus?
Ans. Ray of light parallels to principal axis after refraction either, it passes through a point or
seems to diverges from a point that point lies on principal axis and is known as principal
focus of spherical lens.
Rules for obtaining image by spherical lens:

Image formation by convex lens

Case1: When obj. is at infinity
Image is formed at F
Real and inverted
Highly diminished.

Case 2: When object is beyond 2F

Image is formed between F and 2F
Real and inverted
Diminished.

Case 3: When object is at 2F

Image is formed at 2F
Real and inverted
Same size.

Case 4: When object is between F and 2F

Image is formed at 2F
Real and inverted
Magnified.
Case 5: When object is at F
Image is formed at infinity
Real and inverted
Highly Magnified.

Case 6: When object is between F and O

Image is formed beyond the object
Virtual and erect
Magnified.

Object Position Image Position Nature Size

At Infinity At Focus Real and Inverted Highly Diminished
Beyond 2F Between F and 2F Real and Inverted Diminished
At 2F At 2F Real and Inverted Same Size
Between F and 2F Beyond 2F Real and Inverted Magnified
At Focus At Infinity Real and Inverted Highly Magnified
Between F and O Beyond the Object Virtual and Erect Magnified
Uses of convex lens:
- Convex lens are used in spectacles to correct the defect of vision hypermetropia.
- It is used for making simple camera.
- It is used as magnifying glass.
- It is used for making microscope, telescope & slide projector.
Ques. Where should an object be placed so that a real & inverted image of the same size
is obtained by a convex lens.
Ques. A convex lens has focal length 20 cm, where should an object be placed so as to
obtain an image which is real inverted & same size as the object?
Ans To obtain real, inverted & same size image object should be kept at 2F.
Object distance =2×F = 2×20=40 cm.
Ques. An object is placed at the following distances from a convex lens of focal
length10 cm.
i. 8 cm. ii. 15 cm iii. 20 cm iv. 25 cm
(a) Which position of the object will produce of a diminished real image,
(b) a magnified real image,
(c) a magnified virtual image and
(d) an image of same size of the obj.
Q. Which of the following lens would you prefer to use while reading small letters found
in a dictionary.
 i. a convex lens of f=50 cm
ii. a concave lens of f=50 cm
iii. a convex lens of f=5 cm
iv. a concave lens of f=5 cm

Image formation by concave lens

Case1: When object is at infinity
Image formed at F,
virtual & erect
highly diminished.

Case2: When object is anywhere between infinity & optical centre.

Image is formed between F & O
virtual & erect
diminished.

Uses of concave lens:

- It is used in correcting the defect of vision myopia.
- It is used as # eye lens in Galilean telescope.
- It is used as spy hole in doors & windows.
- It is used in combination with convex lens to make high quality lens system for
optical instrument.
Sign convention by spherical lens:
According to new Cartesian sign convention,
- All distances are measured from the optical centre of the lens.
- Distance measured towards left side of the lens are taken as –ve.
- Distance measured towards right side of the lens are taken as +ve.
- Dist measured towards upward the principal axis are taken as +ve.
- Dist measured towards downward the principal axis are taken as –ve.
• object distance (u) = -ve.
• Image ist (ν) =
Real image = +ve
Virtual image = -ve.
• Focal length (f)
Convex lens = +ve.
Concave lens = -ve
• Object height (h1) = +ve.
• Image height (h2)
Real image = -ve
Virtual image = +ve.
Lens formula:
Lens formula gives us relation between object distance, image distance and focal length
of a spherical lens.
According to lens formula the difference of reciprocal of image distance to object
distance. Is equals to reciprocal of its focal length

Magnification produced by lens:

• The linear magnification is the ratio of the height of image to the height of the obj.
m=
• The linear magnification produced by a lens is equal to the ratio of image distance to
object distance
m=
- If m is –ve → real image → convex lens.
If m>|1|; h2>h1→ object between F&2F.
If m=|1|; h2=h1→ object at 2F.
If m<|1|; h2< h1→ object beyond 2F.
- If m is +ve → virtual → convex & concave.
If m>1; h2>h1 → convex lens→ object between F&O
If m <1; h2 h2<h1→ concave lens → object anywhere between
infinity &O.
Ques.1 A convex lens of focal length 10 cm is placed at a distance of 12 cm from
a wall how far from the lens should an object be placed so as to form its
real image on the wall.
Ques.2 If an object of 7 cm height is placed at a distance of 12 cm from a convex
lens of focal length 8 cm. find the position, natural & height of the image.
Ques.3 The magnification produced by spherical lens is +2.5. What is the nature
of the image, lens and position of the object?
Ques.4 An object is placed at a distance of 50 cm from a concave lens of focal
length 20 cm. Find the nature & position of the image.
Ques.5 An object is placed at a distance of 50 cm from a concave lens produces
virtual image at a distance of 10 cm, in front of the lens. Calculate its focal
length & magnification produced.
Ques.6 The magnification produced by spherical lens is + 0.75. What is nature of
image & lens?
Power of lens:
The power of a lens gives degree of convergence or divergence of a light rays falling on it.
Power of lens is defined as reciprocal of its focal length (in metre).
Power of lens=

Lens of short focal length have more power and vice-versa.

Thin lens has less power whereas thick lens has more power.
Power of Concave lens is –ve where as power of convex lens is +ve.
 SI unit of power of lens is dioptre, represented by ‘D’.
Ques. Define 1 dioptre power of lens.
Ans. Power of lens is said to be 1 dioptre, if its focal length is 1m.
Ques.1 A convex lens is of focal length 10 cm. What is its power?
Ans: +10 D
Ques.2 A person having myopic eye uses a concave lens of focal length 50 cm.
What is the power of the lens?
Ans: -2 D
Ques.3 A thin lens has focal length -25 cm. What is the power of the lens &
what is its nature.
Ans: -4 D
Ques.4 A power of lens is + 2.5 D. What kind of lens it is and what is its focal
length?
Ans: 40 cm
Ques.5 Find the power of a concave lens whose focal length is 2m?
Ans: -0.5 D
Ques.6 A convex lens forms a real & inverted image of a needle at a distance of
50 cm from the lens. If the image is of the same size as the needle,
where the needle is placed infront of the lens & also finds the power of
the lens?
Ans: +4.0 D
Power of a Combination of Lenses
If a number of lenses are placed in close contact, then the power of the combination of
lenses is equal to the algebraic sum of the powers of individual lenses.
P=p1+p2+p3+_____
Ques.1 Two thin lenses of power, +3.5D and -2.5D are placed in contact. Find the power
and focal length of the lens combination.
Ans: 1.0D & +1 m
Ques.2 (a) Two lenses A and B have power of (i) +2 D and (ii) -4 D resp. What is the
nature and focal length of each lens?
(b) An object is placed at a distance of 100cm from of each of the above lenses A
and B. Calculate (i) image distance, and (ii) magnification, in each of the two
cases.
Ans: (a) lens A is convex ; f = +50 cm; lens B is concave ; f= -25 cm (b) Lens A : v =
+100 cm ; m = -1 ; lens B : v = -20cm ; m = 0.2
Ques.3 A convex lens of focal length 10cm is placed in contact with a concave
lens of focal length 20cm. The focal length of this combination of lenses
will be :
(a) +10cm (b) +20cm (c) -10cm (d) -20cm