B.Sc.

(H) Physics Semester 5 MP Computational Lab

October 22-29, 2020 Time Limit : 4 Hrs

Name Roll No.

The following rules apply:

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Question: 1 2 3 Total

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• Each step carries weight.

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Points: 0 5 5 10
• Step should be commented.
Score:

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• Answers must be supported.

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Experiment 5
Geodesics : Fermat’s Principle

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Euclidean Space

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When light of wavelength λ0 travels in vacuum from point A to B, the distance
between A and B can be measured in terms of step size λ0 of light. The number of
steps light takes to cross AB is then
rg

Z B
ds
s.o

N0 =
A λ0
sic

However, if the medium has refractive index µ then the step size of light is reduced
to λ = λ0 /µ and the number of steps light takes to cross AB will be different
hy

Z B Z B
ds µds
ssp

N= =
A λ A λ0
The same physical distance between A and B in vacuum
Z B
e

L0 = ds = N0 λ0
eg

A
oll

appears to be longer ( known as the optical path )

Z B Z B
aC

ds
L = N λ0 = λ0 = µds
A λ A
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The Fermat’s Principle states that, of all possible paths, light tends to follow a path
which makes the total optical path an extremum
Kh

Z B
0 = δL = δ µds
TB

A
SG

which is geodesic problem.

B.Sc. (H) Physics Semester 5 Page 2 of 3 October 22-29, 2020

Methodology

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Figure 1: The experiment

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Along AC, Optical path
Z C Z C Z C Z B Z C 
ds 1 1 L1 + L2
I= dt = = µds = µ1 ds + µ2 ds = (1)
A A c/µ c A c A B c
g

Design a step size h = N1−0

r

+1
on the interface SE and use k = 0, ...., N
R.
s.o

R
Define an integral of path Pk as the optical distance = µds, AB = µ1 ds, BC = µ2 ds
sic

Z B Z x=kh q Z x=kh s Z x=kh

2 2 dy12 p
µ1 ds1 = µ1 dx1 + dy1 = µ1 dx 1 + 2 = µ1 dx 1 + y 02 (2)
A x=0 x=0 dx1 x=0
hy

y 0 is the slope of the line.

ssp

Similarly along BC
s
C x=1 x=1 x=1
dy 2
Z Z q Z Z p
µ2 ds2 = 2 2
µ1 dx2 + dy2 = µ2 dx 1 + 22 = µ2 dx 1 + y 02 (3)
B x=kh x=kh dx2 x=kh

Add the two AB and BC to get the total path.

e
eg

Find the k for which the path Pk is minimum.

Follow the procedure to evaluate
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• Choose shortest and longest paths

aC

• Find slopes and get angles

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• Verify Snell’s Law

Kh
TB
SG
B.Sc. (H) Physics Semester 5 Page 3 of 3 October 22-29, 2020

1. Concept
(a) (0 points) (Physical & Optical Path)
What is the optical path?
(b) (0 points) (Fermat’s Principle & Geodesic)
Define and briefly explain the Fermat’s principle.

2. Coding
(a) (2 points) (Optical Path & Total Optical Path)

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(Optical Path) An interface I separates two media of refractive indices µ1 and µ2 . With
a source of light at S on one side and a detector D at the other side, write the code to

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find optical paths l1 and l2 in the two regions using an integration function (inbuilt or user
defined).

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Z Z
l1 = µ1 ds & l2 = µ2 ds
R1 R2

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(Total Optical Path) Hence find the total optical path l = l1 + l2 .

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(b) (3 points) (Geodesic & Fermat’s Principle)
(Geodesic) The trajectory of light will cross the interface at some point P . Plot total

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optical path versus position of this point P . Find the minimum of the total optical paths
and the corresponding position.

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(Fermat’s Principle) Plot all the trajectories in the physical space and highlight the
geodesic. Verify the Snell’s law.

3. Applications
(a) (5 points) (Fermat’s Principle & Snell’s Law)
An interface y = 0 separates two media of refractive indices µ1 = 1.3(y > 0) and µ2 =
g

1.0(y < 0). With a source of light at (0, 1) and a detector at (1, −1), verify the Snell’s law.
r
s.o
sic
hy
ssp
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TB
SG