DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, DURGAPUR

SESSION: 2020-21
ASSIGNMENT - 10
SUB: PHYSICS CLASS: X WEEK: 11TH

TOPIC: REFRACTION OF LIGHT

SUB-TOPIC: Refraction through a prism

Refraction Of Light Through A Glass Prism.

When a ray of light is incident on a rectangular glass slab, after refracting through the slab, it gets displaced
laterally. As a result, the emergent ray comes out parallel to the incident ray. Does the same happen if a ray of
light passes through a glass prism? Unlike a rectangular slab, the sides of a glass prism are inclined at an angle
called the angle of prism. Therefore, a ray of light incident on its surface, after refraction, will not emerge
parallel to the incident light ray (as seen in the case of a rectangular slab).

Figure shows the passage of light through a prism ABC.

(i) The angles of incidence and refraction at the first face AB are i and r1.
(ii) The angle of incidence (from glass to air) at the
second face AC is r2and the angle of refraction or
emergence is e.
(iii) The angle between the emergent ray RS and
incident ray PQ is called the angle of deviation, δ.
In the quadrilateral AQNR, two of the angles (at the
vertices Q and R) are right angles. Therefore, the sum of
the other angles of the quadrilateral is 180°.
∠A +∠QNR =∠180 °
from the triangle QNR, r1+r2+∠QNR =180°
Comparing these two equations, we get r1 + r2 = A
The total deviation δ is the sum of deviations at the two faces:
δ = (i – r1) + (e – r2)
i.e. δ = i + e – A

Very short Answer type questions:

Q1 Define prism angle.
Ans. The angle between its two lateral faces is called the angle of the prism or the prism angle.
Q2 Define angle of deviation for a prism.
Ans. When the light ray is allowed to pass through the prism, it makes the emergent ray bend at an angle to
the direction of the incident ray. This angle between incident ray and emergent ray is called the angle
of deviation for the prism.
Q3 What do you mean by the refracting edge of the prism?
Ans. It is the edge where two rectangular refracting faces of the prism meet.
Q4 What is the angle of emergence?
Ans. The angle between the emergent ray and normal at the second refracting face of the prism is called the
angle of emergence.
Short Answer type questions:
Q5 On what factors does the angle of deviation depends?
Ans. The angle of deviation through a prism depends on
 angle of prism,
 nature of material of the prism and
 angle of incidence.
Q6 What are the conditions for minimum deviation in a prism?
Ans. The condition for minimum deviation through a prism is that angle of incidence (i) is equal to angle of
emergence (e).In that case, the refracted ray QR becomes parallel to the base BC of the prism.
Q7 Why does a ray of light bend towards the base when it passes through a glass prism?
Ans. When the ray of light goes from optically rarer medium (air) to optically denser medium (glass) at the
first surface, it bends towards the normal. At the second refractive surface, the light ray enters from
denser medium (glass) to rarer medium (air). Hence, it bends towards the base of the prism i.e. it bends
away from the normal.
Q8 If the emergent ray makes an angle of 40° with the second refracting surface of the prism, what is the
angle of emergence?
Ans. ∠e = 90° – 40° = 50°
Home Assignment:
1. While performing the experiment on tracing the path of a ray of light
through a glass prism as shown in the given diagram, four students
interpreted the result as given below. At the minimum deviation
position of the prism, which one of the four interpretations is correct?
(a) θ1 = θ3
(b) θ1 = θ2
(c) θ1 = θ4
(d) θ1 > θ3
2. Sumitra was given two glass prisms. One was made of ordinary glass and other one was of flint glass
(Given that refractive index of flint glass is more than that of ordinary glass). She traced the path of rays
through both and after observing the diagram and concluded that bending of light for the given angle of
incidence was
(a) more in the prism made of flint glass.
(b) more in the prism made of ordinary glass.
(c) same in both the glass prisms.
(d) independent of the nature of glass of which the prism was made.
3. The following figure depicts the bending of a ray of light on passing through a
prism. Identify the angle of deviation from the given choices.
(a) ∠ABG
(b) ∠CEB
(c) ∠FEC
(d) ∠DCI
4. Which of the following is the best set-up for tracing the path of ray of
light through a glass prism?
(a) (i) only
(b) (ii) only
(c) (iii) only
(d) (iv) only

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