Optics Ques 27

  1. A ray of light passes through four transparent media with refractive indices $\mu _1, \mu _2, \mu _3$ and $\mu _4$ as shown in the figure. The surfaces of all media are parallel. If the emergent ray $C D$ is parallel to the incident ray $A B$, we must have

(2001, 2M)

(a) $\mu _1=\mu _2$

(b) $\mu _2=\mu _3$

(c) $\mu _3=\mu _4$

(d) $\mu _4=\mu _1$

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Answer:

Correct Answer: 27.(d)

Solution:

Formula:

Laws of Refraction (at any Refracting Surface):

  1. Applying Snell’s law at $B$ and $C$,

$\mu \sin i=$ constant or

$ \mu _1 \sin i _B=\mu _4 \sin i _C $

But $\quad A B | C D$

$ \therefore \quad i _B=i _C $

or

$ \mu _1=\mu _4 $

NOTE: The Snell’s law, which the students read in their plus two syllabus $\mu=\frac{\sin i}{\sin r}$ is derived from $\mu \sin i=$ constant or $\mu _1 \sin i _1=\mu _2 \sin i _2$

Here : $\mu _1=1, \mu _2=\mu$, or $\sin i=\mu \sin r$ or $\mu=\frac{\sin i}{\sin r}$



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