Chapter 9: RAY OPTICS & OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS

Section 3: Refraction at spherical surfaces

Refracting surface is a surface which separates two media of different refractive indices. Any
transparent surface that forms a part of the sphere is called as spherical refracting surface.
Refraction at a spherical refracting surface takes place in accordance with the laws of
refraction at a plane surface, since a small portion of the spherical surface may be regarded as
a plane surface. Spherical refracting surfaces are of two types.
They are
i) Convex spherical refracting surface: is a surface which is convex towards the rarer
medium.
ii) Concave spherical refracting surface: is a surface which is concave towards the
rarer medium.
The various terms that we come across in the study of refraction at a spherical surface are as
follows.
Aperture: of a spherical refracting surface is the area of the given spherical refracting
surface which is available for refraction.
Pole (P): of a spherical refracting surface is the geometric centre (or) mid-point of a given
spherical refracting surface.
Centre of curvature (C): of a spherical refracting surface is the centre of the sphere of
which the given spherical refracting surface forms a part.
Radius of curvature (R): of a spherical refracting surface is the radius of the sphere of
which the given spherical refracting surface forms a part.
It is equal to the distance between pole (p) and the centre of curvature (C)
Principal axis (PA): of a given spherical refracting surface is the straight line passing
through its centre of curvature (C) and the pole (p)
A ray of light incident along the principal axis travels without any deviation into the
other medium.
Object space: It is the medium in which the object is placed (or) medium in which the
incident rays are present.
Image space: It is the medium in which the image of the object is formed (or) medium in
which the refracted rays are present.

Convex spherical surface Concave spherical surface

Relation between n, u, v and R
(For a convex spherical refracting surface and object placed in the rarer medium)
The following assumption are made in deriving a relation for refraction at a spherical surface.
i) The aperture of the spherical refracting surface is considered to be small.
ii) Only paraxial rays are considered.
(Paraxial rays are the rays close to the principal axis and therefore angle of incidence
and hence the angle of refraction are very small)
iii) A point object is considered and it is placed on the principal axis.
Consider a spherical refracting surface AB separating two media of refractive indices no
and 𝑛𝐼 such that 𝑛𝐼 > no. Let R, P & C be the radius of curvature, pole and centre of
curvature of the spherical surface.
Let O be the luminous point object placed on the principal axis in a medium of
refractive index no (object space). A ray of light from O along the principal axis proceeds
undeviated along the principal axis. Another paraxial ray incident along OM gets refracted
and the two refracted rays meets at I. Hence, I is the real image of the object O. Let i be the
angle of incidence and r be the angle of refraction. Draw MN perpendicular to the principal
as shown in the diagram.

Applying Snell’s law we get,

no sin i = 𝑛𝐼 sin r
Since paraxial rays are considered sin i = i & sin r = r

 no i = 𝑛𝐼 r …………(1)

In triangle OMC, i =∠ MON +∠ MCN …. (2) (exterior angle = sum of the opposite
interior angle)
Similarly in triangle MCI
∠MCN = r + ∠MIC
 𝑟 = ∠ 𝑀𝐶𝑁 – ∠ 𝑀𝐼𝐶 … . (3)
MN
From the figure tan ∠ MON =
ON
MN
tan ∠ MCN = &
CN
 tan ∠MIC = MN
IN
Since paraxial rays are considered tan ∠MON = ∠MON
tan ∠MCN = ∠MCN
tan ∠MIC = ∠MIC
and ON = OP, CN = CP & IN = IP
 we get, ∠MON = MN
OP
MN
∠MCN =
CP
& ∠MIC = MN
IP
Substituting these values in equation (2) and (3) we get
MN MN
From equation (2) i = + …………. (4)
OP CP
MN MN
& From equation (3) r = - ……… (5)
CP IP
Substituting equation (4) & (5) in (1) we get
 MN MN   MN MN 
no  +  = 𝑛𝐼  − 
 OP CP   CP IP 

n n   nI nI 
MN  o + o  = MN  − 
 OP CP   CP IP 
no
+ no = n I - nI
OP CP CP IP
no
+ nI = nI − no
OP IP CP
Here OP = u (object distance),
IP = v (image distance) & CP = R (radius of curvature)
 no + nI = nI − no
u v R
Applying sign conventions, we get u = - u, v = + v & R = + R
 - no + nI = nI − no …. (6)
u v R

Equation (6) gives the relation between object distance and image distance in terms of
refractive index of the medium and the radius of curvature of the curved spherical surface.
Equation (6) holds good in general for any curved spherical surface and whether the
object is in denser medium (or) rarer medium.
nI − no
In equation (6) the term is called as the power of the spherical refracting
R
surface and it is a measure of the degree of divergence (or) convergence of the beam of light
passing through it.
Application:

Refraction through the earth’s atmosphere

The refraction through the earth’s atmosphere is responsible for many interesting
phenomena. For example, the sun is visible a little before the actual sun rise and little after
the actual sunset due to refraction of light through the earth’s atmosphere. Actual sunrise
corresponds to the actual crossing of the horizon by sun. When a ray of light travels from the
atmosphere to air, it bends towards the normal (since the refractive index of air with respect
to vacuum is 1.00029) as a result the apparent shift in the direction of sun is by about half a
degree and the corresponding time difference between actual sunset and apparent sunset is
about two minutes.

Important Questions for PU

1.Why sun is red at rise and set? (2 M)
2.Derive an expression for the relation between n, u, v and R for refraction at a spherical
surface which is convex towards a point object in the rarer medium. (5 M)

Illustrations
1.A convex refracting surface of radius of curvature 20cm separates two media of refractive
indices 1.33 and 1.6. An object is placed in the first medium at a distance 200cm from the
refracting surface. Calculate the position of the image.

Given: no=1.33, 𝑛𝐼 =1.6, u= -200cm, R= +20cm

We have,
- no
+ nI = nI − no
u v R

−1.33 1.6 1.6−1.33

−200
+ 𝑣
= 20
= 0.0135
 1.6
= 0.0135 – 0.00665 = 0.00685
𝑣
v = 1.6 / 0.00685
v = 233.6 cm
Since v is positive image is formed in the denser medium.

2.A small air bubble is formed 0.04m inside the sphere of RI 1.5. when viewed normally
from outside it is seen at a depth of 0.03m. Calculate the radius of curvature of the glass
sphere.
Given: u = -0.04m, v = -0.03m, 𝑛𝐼 = 1, no = 1.5
We have

- no
+ nI = nI − no
u v R

−1.5 1 1−1.5
+ =
−0.04 −0.03 𝑅

−0.5
37.5 – 33.33 = 𝑅
R = -0.5 / 4.17
R = -0.119 = -0.12 m

PU Numericals

1. Light from a point source in air falls on a spherical glass of n = 1.5 and R = 0.2 m. The
image is formed at a distance of 100 cm from the glass surface in the direction of incident
light. Calculate the distance of the object from the centre of curvature of the spherical
surface.
120 cm
2. A glass sphere of radius 15 cm contains a small air bubble at a distance of 6 cm from its
centre. When viewed along the diameter from the nearest side, the bubble appears to be
at 7.5 cm. Calculate the R.I of glass and the apparent distance of the bubble from the
farthest side.
n = 1.5, v = - 26.2 cm
3. A concave spherical surface of R.I 3/2 is immersed in water of R.I 4/3. If a point object
lies in water at a distance of 10 cm from the pole of the refracting surface. Calculate the
position of the image. Given radius of curvature of the refracting surface is 18cm.
v = - 10.87 cm
4. An empty spherical flask of diameter 15 cm is placed in water of R.I 4/3. A parallel beam
of light strikes the flask. Where does it get focused, when observed from within the
flask?
v = - 22.5 cm

5. A sphere of glass of R.I 1.5 is of diameter 0.2 m. A parallel beam of light enters it from
one side. Where will it get focused on the other side?
v = 0.05 m

6. A mark is placed on the surface of a sphere is viewed through glass from a position
directly opposite. If the diameter of the sphere is 20 cm and R.I of glass is 1.5, find the
position of the image.
v = - 40 cm
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