RAY OPTICS – ALL DERIVATIONS

Derivation of mirror formula

Consider an object AB placed on the principle axis beyond the centre of curvature C
of a concave mirror of small aperture, as shown.

Now A 'B 'C  ABC

A 'B' CB ' CP  B'P R  v
    .........(i)
AB BC BP  CP u  R
As A 'B 'C  APB, therefore,
A 'B 'P  ABP
Consequently,
A 'B' B 'P v v
   .................(ii)
AB BP u u
From (i) and (ii),we get
R  v v

u  R u
  uR  uv  uv  vR
 vR  uR  2uv
vR uR 2uv
  
uvR uvR uvR
1 1 2
  
u v R
As R  2f
1 1 2
so  
u v 2f
1 1 1
  
u v f
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Relation between focal length and radius of curvature for spherical mirror

From the diagram,

As AB is parallel to PC,

α  i
In BFC, r  α
Hence CF  FB
For a mirror small aperture
FB  FP
 CF  FP
hence
CP  CF  FP  FP  FP  2FP
or R  2f

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Derivation of thin lens formula

Consider and object AB placed perpendicular to the principal axis of a thin convex
lens between its F’ and C’ as shown. A real, inverted and magnified image A’B’ is
formed beyond C on the other side of the lens.

A 'B 'O and ABO are similar

A 'B ' OB'
  (1)
AB BO
Also A 'B 'F and MOF are similar
A 'B ' FB'
 
MO OF
But MO  AB
A 'B ' FB'
  .......(2)
AB OF
From (1) and (2), we get
OB ' FB' OB ' OF
 
BO OF OF
By sign cartesian sign convention, we get
Object distance, BO = -u
Image distance, OB' = +v
Focal length OF   f
v vf
 
u f
or vf  uv  uf or uv  uf  vf
Dividing both sides by uvf, we get
1 1 1
 
f v u

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Derive a relation between critical angle and refractive index of a medium.

Consider a light ray travelling from denser medium (b) to a rarer medium a.

According to Snell’s law,

sini
a
μa 
sinr

Where, b represents denser medium to rarer medium.

At i  ic , r  90o
sinic
b
μa   sinic
sin 90o
 1
But bμa  a
μb
Therefore
1
a
μb 
sinic

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Derive the relation between the distance of object, distance of image and radius of
curvature of convex spherical surface, when refraction takes place from rarer to
denser medium and image formed is real.

Consider an object placed at O and its real image is formed at I as shown.

In NOC, i is an exterior angle, therefore,

iαγ
Similarly, from NIC, we have
γ rβ
r  γ β

Suppose, all the rays are paraxial. Then the angles i, r, α, β and γ will be small.

NM NM
 α  tan α  
OM OP
NM NM
β  tanβ  
MI PI
NM NM
γ  tan γ  
MC PC

From Snell’s law of refraction,

sini μ2

sinr μ1
As i and r are small, therefore

i μ2

r μ1

 μ1i  μ2r
 μ1  α  γ   μ2  γ  β 
 NM NM   NM NM 
 μ1     μ2   
 OP PC   PC PI 
 1 1   1 1
 μ1     μ2   
 OP PC   PC PI 
μ μ μ  μ1
 1  2  2
OP PI PC

Using Cartesian sign convention,

Object distance OP  u

Image distance PI   v

Radius of curvature PC = +R

μ1 μ2 μ2  μ1
  
u v R

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Derive the expression for lens maker’s formula.

Consider an object placed at O whose final image is formed at I as shown. Let the image
formed by first surface is at I1. This image will act as on abject for the second surface.

For refraction at first surface, we have

 μ2 μ1 μ2  μ1
   (i)
v1 u R1
for refraction at second surface we have
μ1 μ2 μ1  μ2
  (ii)
v v1 R2
adding (i) and (ii) we get
μ1 μ1 1 1
  μ2  μ1    
v u  R1 R 2 
1 1  μ  μ1   1 1
   2   
v u  μ1   R1 R2 

If object is placed at infinity ( u   ), the image is formed at focus, i.e. v = f. Therefore,

1  μ2  μ1   1 1
   
f  μ1   R1 R2 

1  μ2  1 1
    1   
f  μ1   R1 R2 
1 1  1

f

 μ2  1  R1  
R2 
 1

This result is lens maker’s formula.

Derive a relation between angle of deviation, angle of prism and refractive index of
prism.

Consider a ray PQ incident of one face of a prism as shown. The path of ray inside the prism
and refracted ray is also shown.

From quadrilateral AQNR

A  QNR  180o
From the triangle QNR
r  r ' QNR  180o
 A  r ' r

Now, from the triangle MQR, the deviation produced by the prism

δ  MQR  MRQ   i  r    i' r ' 

or δ   i  i'   r  r ' 
or δ  i  i' A
or i  i'  A  δ

For refraction at face AB, we have

sini i
μ   i  μr
sinr r

For refraction at face AC, we have

sini' i'
μ   i'  μr '
sinr ' r '

Hence deviation produced by the prism is

δ  i  i' A  μr  μr ' A
 δ  μ  r  r '   A  μA  A
 δ  μ  1 A

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Derive prism formula

Or

Derive a relation for refractive index of a prism in terms of angle of minimum

deviation.

When a prism is in the position of minimum deviation, a ray of light passes symmetrically
(parallel to base) through the prism, so that

i  i', r  r ', δ  δm

As
A  δ  i  i'
A  δm
 A  δm  i  i' or i 
2
Also A  r  r '  r  r  2r
A
 r
2

From Snell’s law, the refractive index of the material of the prism will be

 A  δm 
sin  
sini  2 
μ or μ
sinr A
sin  
2

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Derive an expression for magnifying power of a simple microscope when final image
in formed at

a. Least distance of distinct vision.

b. Infinity

When final image is formed at least distance of distinct vision

The image A’B’ of an object AB is formed at least distance of distinct vision ‘D’ as shown.
Let A ' OB '  β . Imagine the object AB to be placed to position A ''B ' at distance D from

the lens. Let A '' OB'  α . Then, magnifying power,

β tanβ
m  [since α and β are small]
α tan α
 AB / OB AB / OB
  [ A ''B '  AB]
A ''B '/ OB ' AB / OB '
OB ' D
 
OB  x
D
or m 
x

Let f be the focal length of the lens. As the image is formed at least distance of distinct vision
from the lens, so

v  D

Using thin lens formula,

1 1 1
 
v u f
we get
1 1 1
 
D  x f
1 1 1
  
x D x
D D
  1
x f
D
 m  1
f

When final image is formed at infinity

From fig (a)

 h
tanβ 
f

From fig (b)

h
tan α 
D
h/f
m 
h/D
D
 or m 
f

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Derive an expression for magnifying power of a compound microscope when final

image in formed at

a. Least distance of distinct vision.

b. Infinity

When final image is formed at least distance of distinct vision

The object AB is placed at uo slightly larger than the focal length fo of the objective O. The

object forms a real, inverted and magnified image A’B’ on the other side of the lens. This
image acts as an object for the eyepiece which essentially acts like a simple microscope.
The eyepiece E forms a virtual and magnified final image A’’B’’ of the object.
 β tanβ h '/ ue h ' D
Magnifying power, m     .  mo m e
α tan α h / D h ue

h ' vo
Here, mo  
h uo

As the eyepiece acts as a simple microscope, so

D D
me   1
ue fe
vo  D
m  1  
uo  fe 

When final image is formed at infinity

D
me 
fe
L D
m 
fo fe