LIGHT

Understanding the refraction of light

REFRACTION
The bending of the path of light due to a change in speed as it
enters a medium of different optical density.

Normal line
Incidence ray i

Less optically dense

More optically dense
r
Refracted ray

More optically dense

Less optically dense
r

The bending occurs at the boundary of the two media

LIGHT BEHAVIOUR UNDERGOING REFRACTION
When a light passes from a less optically dense medium into a more
optically dense medium, it is bended towards the normal

Normal line
Incidence ray i

Less optically dense

More optically dense
r

Refracted ray

Light travels slower in a more optically dense medium.

LIGHT BEHAVIOUR UNDERGOING REFRACTION
When a light passes from a more optically dense medium into a less
optically dense medium, it is bended away from the normal

Normal line
Incidence ray i

More optically dense

Less optically dense
r

Refracted ray

Light travels faster in a less optically dense medium.

LIGHT BEHAVIOUR UNDERGOING REFRACTION
When the incidence ray is perpendicular to the boundary ( or parallel with
the normal line ), the light wont be refracted (or bended ) even though
the speed of light has altered.
Normal line
Incidence ray
i= 0
More optically dense
Less optically dense

Refracted ray
SNELLs LAW

When a light travels through two of different optical density medium, with
the incidence rays, refracted rays and normal line are in the same plane,
the ratio of the sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction
is equal to a constant.

sin i / sin r = constant, c

REFRACTIVE INDEX, n
The amount of refraction or bending occurring at a boundary depends upon the
extent to which the speed of light has been altered.
By comparing the speed of light in the medium with the speed of light in a
vacuum, an index that indicates how fast light can travel in that medium is
obtained.

Refractive index, n is the number of degree of the lights speed as it travels in

the medium.

Refractive index, n
= speed of light in vacuum, c / speed of light in the medium, v
REFRACTIVE INDEX, n and SNELLs LAW

For light passing from air into a medium of refractive index, n ;

sin i / sin r = n

EXAMPLE 1:

40o
air
glass
25o n = sin i/sin r
= (sin 40 ) / (sin 25)

Find refractive index, n. = 1.5

EXAMPLE 2:
Find refractive index, n.

60o n = sin i/sin r

air
= (sin 60 ) / (sin 20)
water
= 2.5
20o

EXAMPLE 3: If given n = 1.5, find r.

45o n = sin i/sin r

air 1.5 = (sin 45 ) / (sin r)
glass
sin r = sin 45 / 1.5
r
r = sin-1 ( sin 45 /1.5 )
= 28.1o
EXAMPLE 4:
Find refractive index, n.

n= sin i/sin r
25o air
= (sin (90 - 25 )) /(sin (90 70 ))
70o medium x
= sin 65 / sin 20
= 2.65

EXAMPLE 5: If given n = 1.1, find i.

n = sin i/sin r
i
air 1.1 = (sin i ) / (sin 35)
medium y
sin i = ( 1.1 ) sin 35
35o
i = sin-1 (( 1.1 ) sin 35)
= 39.1o
EXAMPLE 3:
Find refractive index, n.

Remember ! Refractive index, n is obtained

30o air by comparing lights speed as it travels from
water vacuum ( or air ) towards a medium

15o
We consider the light path is in a reverse direction
So, incidence angle, i is an angle in air

n= sin i/sin r
= (sin (90 - 30 )) /(sin (15 ))
= sin 60 / sin 15
= 3.35
EXAMPLE 6:

Complete the path of light after leaving the

prism. Find the refracted angle, r if n = 1.5

normal line
r
i
Light bends away from the normal line, as light
travels from more optically dense medium into a
less optically dense medium

n = sin i/sin r
1.5 = (sin r ) / (sin 30)
sin r = 1.5 ( sin 30 )
r = sin-1 (1.5 ( sin 30 ))
= 48.6o
ACTUAL DEPTH AND APPARENT DEPTH
Refractive index, n = actual depth / apparent depth
observer

Light travels in a straight line

Light travels in a straight line

normal line

Refracted away from the normal

Image

An object position from the waters

surface : actual depth Object (Fish)

An image position from the

waters surface : apparent depth
ACTUAL DEPTH AND APPARENT DEPTH
Refractive index, n = actual depth / apparent depth

apparent depth

actual depth
 LIGHT
UNDERSTANDING TOTAL INTERNAL
REFLECTION OF LIGHT
TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION OF LIGHT
n = sin i / sin r
as i = 90o
n = sin 90 / sin c
= 1 / sin c

Critical angle, c :
an incidence angle when the refracted angle is 90o
 TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION OF LIGHT
Happens when the incidence angle is greater than critical angle
Happens when the incidence ray is transmitted into a medium in
which it travels at a higher speed
Happens when the incidence ray is transmitted from a more optically
dense medium to a less optically dense medium

n = sin i / sin r
as i = 90o Critical angle, c :

n = sin 90 / sin c an incidence angle when the refracted angle is 90o

= 1 / sin c
All rays reflect
internally, but
the top three
rays reflect
only
a small
percentage
internally;
most energy
leaves the
prism.

The fourth and

fifth rays are
reflected 100
% internally.
Water on Road Mirage
APPLICATIONS OF TOTAL Light from sky
INTERNAL REFLECTION - MIRAGES

i
More dense Cool air

Refracted away from the normal r

i<r

i>c

eyes see in a straight line

Less dense Hot air

puddle of water

ground Image of the sky

The View from Below the Water
Rays A, B, and C from the
bottom of the pond are totally
internally reflected.
Outside the 96-degree cone, the
fish sees only light reflected
from the bottom of the pond
The View from Below the Water
APPLICATIONS OF TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION - PERISCOPE

Total internal reflection occurs as the

incidence angle is greater than critical angle

45o
prism

45o
APPLICATIONS OF TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION - BINOCULARS
APPLICATIONS OF TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION - BINOCULARS

45o

45o

Total internal reflection occurs as the

incidence angle is greater than critical angle
Total Internal Reflection in Diamond

The critical angle for

diamond in air is
24.5 degrees

Diamond seem glittering

because any ray which strikes
the surface on the inside at an
angle of greater than 24.5
degrees will not escape the
diamond.
APPLICATIONS OF TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION OPTICAL FIBRES
Optical Fibers in Medicine
 LIGHT
UNDERSTANDING LENSES
CONVEX LENSES

A parallel rays from

distant object are
converged to a
point ; focal point
CONCAVE LENSES

A parallel rays from

distant object are
diverging as they
emerge from the
lens and appear to
have come from a
virtual point ; focal
point
RAY TRACING FOR CONVEX LENSES
Optical axis

principal axis

Object, O Focal point, F Focal point, F Image, I

Focal length,f
Object distance, u
Image distance, v

Image Characteristics :
Real, Inverted, diminished
RAY TRACING FOR CONCAVE LENSES

principal axis

Object, O Focal Image, I Focal point, F

point, F Image distance, v
Focal length,f
Object distance, u

Image Characteristics :
Virtual, upright, diminished
THE LENS EQUATION 1/v vs. 1/u graph

1/v
Gradient, m = - (1/f) / (1/f)
1/f = -1

Intercept, c

1/u
1/f

From y = mx + c
1/v = ( -1 ) (1/u) + 1/f
1/v = -1/u + 1/f

1/f = 1/u + 1/v

SIGN CONVENTIONS

1/f = 1/u + 1/v

QUANTITY CONVEX LENS CONCAVE LENS

f positive negative
u positive positive
v real ( positive ) negative ( as image
virtual (negative) is always virtual)
EXERCISES
1. A convex lens has the focal length 20 cm. An object is put 30 cm in
front of the lens. Find image distance

1/f = 1/u + 1/v

1/20 = 1/30 + 1/v
1/v = 1/20 - 1/30
= ( 3 2 ) / 60
= 1/60
v = 60 cm
2. A real image is formed 20 cm from lens when the object is at 30 cm
from the lens. Find focal length, f

1/f = 1/u + 1/v

1/f = 1/30 + 1/20
1/f = ( 2 + 3 ) / 60
= 5/60
= 1/12
v = 12 cm
u vs. v graph
u
u=v

Intersection point = 2 f

1/f = 1/u + 1/v

When u = v
1/f = 1/u + 1/u
u =2f
 LENS POWER
Power, P = 1 / f

Unit SI for power, P

Diopter, D
1 D = 1 m-1

As focal length for convex lenses is positive, convex lenses

power took a sign of positive and concave lenses power is a
negative as its focal length is negative.
MAGNIFICATION, m

Ratio of the image distance, v to the object distance, u

m=v/u
Ratio of the image height, hi to the object height, ho,

m = hi / ho

If the magnification is greater than 1, this indicates an enlarged or

magnified image.

If the magnification is less than 1, this indicates a diminished or

reduced image

If the magnification = 1, this indicates the image and the object are
equal in size
EXERCISES

1. A convex lens has the focal length 20 cm. An object is put

30 cm in front of the lens. Find
a. magnification, m
1/f = 1/u + 1/v
1/20 = 1/30 + 1/v
1/v = 1/20 - 1/30
= ( 3 2 ) / 60
= 1/60
v = 60 cm

m = (v/u)
= ( 60 / 30 )
= 2
 b. height of the image if height of the object is 2 cm.

From, m = 2

m = hi / ho
2 = hi / 2
hi = 4 cm

c. state the image characteristics.

Real, Inverted and enlarged
2. A concave lens has a power of 2.5 D. An object with
height 6 cm is at 20 cm from the lens. Determine
a. focal length
P = 1/f
2.5 = 1/ f
f = 1/ 2.5
= 100 / 2.5
= 40 cm
b. image distance

1/f = 1/u + 1/v

1/ ( - 40 ) = 1 / 20 + 1/v
1/v = (- 1 / 40 ) - ( 1 / 20 )
= ( -1 - ( 2 ) ) / 40
= ( - 3 / 40 )
v = - 40 / 3
= - 13.3 cm
 c. the height of the image
m = v/u
= hi / ho
v/u = hi / ho
13.3 / 20 = hi / 6
hi = 6 ( 13.3 ) / 20
= 3.99 cm
d. magnification, m
m = v/u
= 13.3 / 20
= 0.67
e. state the image characteristics

virtual, upright and diminished

 DIAGRAM 1 DIAGRAM 2

Diagram 1 shows a laboratory poster being observed through

a convex lens.

Diagram 2 shows the laboratory poster observed through the

same convex lens when the poster is brought closer to the
lens.
INFERENCE :

The size of image, hi

depends on the object
distance, u

HYPOTHESIS :
When the object distance, u is decreased,
the size of image, hi is increases

VARIABLES :
Manipulated : Object distance, u
Responding : size of image, hi
Fixed : the focal length, f
m vs. v graph

m
1/f = 1/u + 1/v
From m = v / u
u=v/m
1 / f = 1 / ( v / m ) + 1 /v
=m/v + 1/v
f v =(m+1)/v
-1 Intercept on x-axis = f
(1/f)v=m+1
From y = mx + C
m=(1/f)v-1
Gradient, m = 1 / f
1 / m vs. u graph

1/f = 1/u + 1/v Gradient, m = 1 / f

From m = v / u
1/m
v=mu
1 / f = 1 / u + 1 / (m u)
=(m+1)/mu
(mu)=f(m+1)
=fm+f
u= f+(1/m )f u
(1/m)f=uf -1 Intercept on x-axis = f

1/ m = ( 1 / f ) u - 1
v vs. m graph

1/f = 1/u + 1/v v

From m = v / u
u=v/m
1 / f = 1 / ( v / m ) + 1 /v
f
=m/v + 1/v
Intercept
=(m+1)/v on y-axis m
v(1/f)=m+1 =f

v=fm+f
Gradient, m = f
u vs. 1 / m graph

1/f = 1/u + 1/v u

From m = v / u
v=mu
1 / f = 1 / u + 1 / (m u)
= ( m + 1 ) / (m u) Intercept f
(mu)(1/f)= (m+1) on y-axis
=f 1/m
u(m/f)= m+1
u=(f/m) (m+1)
=f(1 + (1/m)) Gradient, m = f
=f + (f/m)
=f + f (1/m)
OPTICAL DEVICES

By

Pn Aminah Ab Rahman
Physics Teacher
SM Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra,
16100 Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan
The Convex Lens as a MAGNIFIER

The distance of the object, u is less than focal length

FILM PROJECTORS
CAMERA FILM IMAGE
COMPOUND MICROSCOPE AND
ASTRONOMY TELESCOPE
COMPOUND MICROSCOPE

To view very fine objects

Consists of two convex lenses ;

Objective lens and Eye lens
COMPOUND MICROSCOPE
Objective lens : Acting as a magnifier

f < objects distance, u < 2f

O Fo I1
Fo

Objective lens Initial image

Characteristics of the image

Inverted, real and magnified
COMPOUND MICROSCOPE

Initial image
eye
O I2 I1
Fo Fo Fe Fe

Objective lens Eye Lens

Eye Lens : To form a virtual and enlarged im

Final image Objects distance, u < f

Characteristics of the final image

:
Virtual, inverted, and enlarged
In comparison to the object
COMPOUND MICROSCOPE
The focal length of the eye lens is greater than the
focal length of the objective lens

fe > fo
Pe < Po
The total distance between the objective lens and eye
lens is greater than ( fo + fe )
ASTRONOMY TELESCOPE

To view object in infinity

Consists of two convex lenses ;

Objective lens and Eye lens
ASTRONOMY TELESCOPE

Fo

Initial image

Objective lens

Objective Lens : To converge rays from infinity to the focal

point
Image Characteristics :
Inverted, diminished, real
ASTRONOMY TELESCOPE
fo fe

Initial image eye

Fo Fe Fe

Image Characteristics :

Final image Upright, virtual, magnified

In comparison to the initial

image
Eye Lens : To form a virtual image at infinity
ASTRONOMY TELESCOPE
The focal length of the objective lens is greater than
the focal length of the eye lens

fo > fe
Po < Pe
The total distance between the objective lens and eye
lens is equal to fo + fe

Magnification, m = Pe / Po
= fo / fe
COMPARISON BETWEEN COMPOUND MICROSCOPE AND
ASTRONOMY TELESCOPE

SIMILARITIES
Both have two convex lenses
The final image is virtual, inverted and magnified

DIFFERENCES

COMPOUND ASPECT ASTRONOMY

MISCROCOPE TELESCOPE

To view very fine Uses

To view objects at infinity
objects ( distant objects )

f < u < 2f Objects distance At infinity

f o < fe Focal Length fo > fe

Po > Pe Lens Power Po < Pe