Refraction of light at plane
surfaces
Section A
Speed of light in different mediums
Speed of light in air or vacuum - 3×108m/s
Speed of light in water = 2.25×108m/s
Speed of light in glass = 2×108m/s
Note:
While passing from one medium to another,
if light slows down, the second medium is said to be
optically denser medium.
If light speeds up, the second medium is said to be
optically rarer.
Refraction of light
The change in direction of light when it travels from one
transparent medium to another transparent medium is
called refraction of light.
It is known as surface phenomenon, since it occurs at
the surface separating the two different transparent
mediums.
The intensity of refracted light will be less because a
small part of light suffers reflection.
Cause of refraction:
Change in speed of light when it travels from one
transparent medium to another transparent medium.
cases
Case 1 Case 2
δ = r-i δ = i-r
• When light travels from rarer to denser medium, it bends towards
the normal.
• When light travels from denser to rarer medium, it bends away
from the normal.
Case 3
The ray of light
incident normally on r =0
the surface separating
two media, passes
undeviated.
Laws of refraction
The incident ray, refracted ray and the normal
at the point of incidence, all lie in the same
plane.
For a pair of given media, the ratio of sine of
angle of incidence to sine of angle of
refraction is a constant called refractive index
of second medium with respect to first
medium.
sin 𝑖
Refractive index, 1μ2 = [ no unit]
sin 𝑟
These laws are called Snell’s laws.
Effect on speed, wavelength and frequency due to refraction
• When a ray of light travels from rarer to denser medium, the
speed of light decreases; while if it travels from denser to
rarer medium, the speed of light increases.
• Frequency of light depends on the source of light, so it
remains unchanged during refraction.
• Since V= f λ ,
Vαλ
When light travels from denser to rarer medium, speed of
light increases, hence wavelength increases….
When light travels from rarer to denser medium, speed of
light decreases, hence wavelength decreases….
Refractive index
sin 𝑖
Refractive index, 1μ2 = [ no unit]
sin 𝑟
Relation between refractive index and speed of light in different
media:
𝑐
μ = where c- speed of light in vacuum or air
𝑣
v – speed of light in a medium
Absolute refractive index -- meaning
Refractive index of air/ vacuum = 1
Refractive index of water = 1.33
Refractive index of glass = 1.5 meaning of
statements
Refractive index of diamond = 2.41
1. Can absolute refractive index be less than 1?
𝑐
Ans: μ =
𝑣
light has maximum speed in air/ vaccum… hence
absolute refractive index will be always greater than
one.
2. What are the conditions for zero refraction or what
are the conditions for a light ray to pass undeviated
during refraction?
When light ray passes through the normal or i= 0
When refractive index of medium 1 = refractive
index of medium 2
Relation between refractive index
and wavelength in two media
Consider a ray of light travelling from air to a
medium in which the velocity of light is ‘v’.
𝑐
f air =
λ
𝑣
f medium = λ′
Since f is constant ,
𝑐 𝑣
=
λ λ′
𝑐 λ
ie; =
𝑣 λ′
λ
μ =
λ′
Factors affecting refractive index of a medium
Nature of medium( optical density):
Smaller the speed of light in a medium, higher the refractive
index.(optically denser)
Temperature:
when the temperature increases, speed of light increases and
𝑐
hence refractive index decreases.(μ = )
𝑣
Colour or wavelength:
speed of light is same for all colours in air/vacuum..
it is different in other mediums …
λ
μ=
λ′
μv ˃ μR
Refractive index decreases with increase in wavelength.
Principle of reversibility
• The path of the light ray is reversible.
case 1:
sin 𝑖
1 μ2 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑟
case 2:
sin 𝑟
2μ1 =
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖
sin 𝑖 sin 𝑟
1μ2 × 2μ1 = ×
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖
1 μ2 × 2μ1 =1
OR
1 μ2 =
1
2μ1
Question time
3
If refractive index of glass with respect to air is ,
2
what will be the refractive index of air with respect
to glass?
Refraction through a glass block
Air
glass
Air
Note:
1. Emergent ray is parallel to the direction of incident ray…
since refraction occurs at two parallel surfaces.
2. Angle of incidence = Angle of emergence
3. Lateral displacement is the
perpendicular distance
between emergent ray and
direction of incident ray
Refraction of light incident normally
on a glass slab
The light ray incident
normally on a glass
slab passes
undeviated…
Factors affecting lateral displacement
1. Thickness of the medium:
More the thickness of the medium, more is the lateral
displacement…
2. Angle of incidence:
More the angle of incidence, more is the lateral displacement…
3. Refractive index:
More the refractive index, more is the lateral displacement…
4. Colour or wavelength:
Lateral displacement is more for violet than red.
ie; wavelength is inversely proportional to lateral displacement
