OPTICS

Learning Objectives

List the properties of light.

Explain the scattering of light and its various
kinds.
Understand the images formed by concave
and convex lens.
Analyze the ray diagram of concave and
convex lens.
Understand the working of human eye and
optical instruments
State the laws of refraction.
 LIGHT

Light is a form of energy which travels in the

form of waves. The path of light is called ray
of light and group of these rays are called as
beam of light. Any object which gives out
light are termed as source of light. Some of
the sources emit their own light and they are
called as luminous objects.
 PROPERTIES OF LIGHT
 1. Light is a form of energy.
 2. Light always travels along a straight line.
 3. Light does not need any medium for its propagation. It
can even travel through vacuum.
 4. The speed of light in vacuum or air is, c = 3×10 8ms−1
 5. Since, light is in the form of waves, it is characterized
by a wavelength (λ) and a frequency (ν), which are
related by the following equation: c = ν λ (c - velocity of
light).
 6.Different coloured light has different wavelength and
frequency.
 7.Among the visible light, violet light has the lowest
wavelength and red light has the highest wavelength.
 8.When light is incident on the interface between two
media, it is partly reflected and partly refracted.
 REFRACTION OF LIGHT

When a ray of light travels from one transparent

medium into another obliquely, the path of the light
undergoes deviation. This deviation of ray of light is
called refraction.
First law of refraction:
The incident ray, the refracted ray of light and the
normal to the refracting surface all lie in the same plane.
Second law of refraction:
The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence and sine of
the angle of refraction is equal to the ratio of refractive
indices of the two media. This law is also known as
Snell’s law.
 REFRACTION OF A COMPOSITE LIGHT-
DISPERSION OF LIGHT

Sun light is a composite light which consists

of light of various colours or wavelengths.
Another example for a composite source is a
mercury vapour lamp.
When a beam of white light or composite
light is refracted through any transparent
media such as glass or water, it is split into
its component colours. This phenomenon is
called as ‘dispersion of light’.
 SCATTERING OF LIGHT

When sunlight enters the Earth’s

atmosphere, the atoms and molecules of
different gases present in the atmosphere
refract the light in all possible directions.
This is called as ‘Scattering of light’.
The beam of light is redirected in all
directions when it interacts with a particle of
medium. The interacting particle of the
medium is called as ‘scatterer’.
 Types of scattering

1 Elastic scattering 2 Inelastic scattering

The energy of the incident beam The energy of the incident beam
of light and the scattered beam of of light and the scattered beam of
light are same, then it is called as light are not same, then it is called
‘elastic scattering’. as ‘inelastic scattering’.
Different types of scattering are
Rayleigh scattering
Mie scattering
Tyndall scattering
Raman scattering
 Scattering types
Rayleigh scattering -
The scattering of sunlight by the atoms or
molecules of the gases in the earth’s
atmosphere is known as Rayleigh scattering.
Rayleigh’s scattering law-
“The amount of scattering of light is inversely
proportional to the fourth power of its
wavelength”.
According to this law, the shorter wavelength
colours are scattered much more than the
longer wavelength colours.
 Mie scattering
 Mie scattering takes place when the diameter of the
scatterer is similar to or larger than the wavelength
of the incident light. It is also an elastic scattering.
 Tyndall Scattering
 The scattering of light rays by the colloidal particles
in the colloidal solution is called Tyndall Scattering
or Tyndall Effect.
 Raman scattering
 “The interaction of light ray with the particles of pure
liquids or transparent solids, which leads to a change
in wavelength or frequency.”
 LENSES

(i) Convex or bi-convex (ii) Concave or bi-concave

lens: Lens:
It is a lens bounded by It is a lens bounded by
two spherical surfaces two spherical surfaces
such that it is thicker at such that it is thinner at
the centre than at the the centre than at the
edges. edges.
A beam of light passing A parallel beam of light
through it, is converged passing through it, is
to a point. So, a convex diverged or spread out.
lens is also called as So, a concave lens is
converging lens. also called as diverging
lens.
 Other types of Lenses

Plano-convex lens: Plano-concave lens:

If one of the faces of If one of the faces of

a bi-convex lens is a bi-concave lens is
plane, it is known as plane, it is known as
a plano-convex lens. a plano-concave
lens.
CONVERGING
AND DIVERGING
LENSES
 IMAGES FORMED DUE TO REFRACTION
THROUGH A CONVEX AND CONCAVE LENS

Rule-1: When a ray of light strikes the convex or concave lens

obliquely at its optical centre, it continues to follow its path
without any deviation
Rule-2: When rays
parallel to the
principal axis
strikes a convex or
concave lens, the
refracted rays are
converged to
(convex lens) or
appear to diverge
from (concave
lens) the principal
focus
 Rule-3: When a ray passing through (convex lens)
or directed towards (concave lens) the principal
focus strikes a convex or concave lens, the refracted
ray will be parallel to the principal axis
 Object at infinity- When an object is
REFRACTION placed at infinity, a real image is formed at
THROUGH A the principal focus. The size of the image is
CONVEX much smaller than that of the object
LENS
The
formation of
images by a
convex lens
when the
object is
placed at
various
positions.
Object placed
beyond C
(>2F)
When an object is
placed behind
the center of
curvature(beyond
C), a real and
inverted image is
formed between
the center of
curvature and
the principal
focus. Th e size
of the image is
the same as that
of the object
Object placed
at C
When an object
is placed at the
center of
curvature, a real
and inverted
image is formed
at the other
center of
curvature. Th e
size of the
image is the
same as that of
the object
Object placed
between F
and C

When an object is
placed in
between the
center of
curvature and
principal focus, a
real and inverted
image is formed
behind the center
of curvature. The
size of the image
is bigger than
that of the object
 APPLICATIONS OF CONVEX LENSES

1. Convex lenses are used as camera lenses

2. They are used as magnifying lenses
3. They are used in making microscope,
telescope and slide projectors
4. They are used to correct the defect of
vision called hypermetropia
REFRACTION THROUGH A CONCAVE LENS

Object at Infinity-
When an object is placed at infinity, a virtual
image is formed at the focus. The size of the
image is much smaller than that of the object
Object anywhere on the principal axis at a
finite distance-
When an object is placed at a finite distance from
the lens, a virtual image is formed between
optical center and focus of the concave lens. The
size of the image is smaller than that of the
object
 APPLICATIONS OF CONCAVE LENSES

1. Concave lenses are used as eye lens of

‘Galilean Telescope’
2. They are used in wide angle spy hole in
doors.
3. They are are used to correct the defect of
vision called ‘myopia’
 LENS FORMULA

The relationship among distance of the object

(u), distance of the image (v) and the focal
length (f ) of the lens. It is expressed as
1/f=1/v-1/u
 SIGN CONVENTION

 According to cartesian sign convention,

 1. The object is always placed on the left side of the lens.

 2. All the distances are measured from the optical centre of
the lens.
 3. The distances measured in the same direction as that of
incident light are taken as positive.
 4. The distances measured against the direction of incident
light are taken as negative.
 5. The distances measured upward and perpendicular to
the principal axis is taken as positive.
 6. The distances measured downward and perpendicular to
the principal axis is taken as negative.
 MAGNIFICATION OF A LENS

It is defined as the ratio of the height of the

image to the height of an object.
Magnification is denoted by the letter ‘m’. If
height of the object is h and height of the
image is h ´,

m = height of the image = h'

height of the object = h
It is related to the distance of the object (u) and the
distance of the image (v) as follows:

m = Distance of the image = v

Distance of the object =u
If the magnification is greater than 1, then we get an
enlarged image.

If the magnification is less than 1, then we get a

diminished image.
 LENS MAKER’S FORMULA

1 /f=(μ − 1)(1/R1-1/ R2) .

where μ is the refractive index of the material

of the lens; R1 and R2 are the radii of
curvature of the two faces of the lens; f is the
focal length of the lens.
Differences between a Convex Lens and a Concave Lens

Convex Lens Concave Lens

1 A convex lens is 1 A concave lens is

thicker in the middle thinner in the middle
than at edges. than at edges.
2 It is a converging 2 It is a diverging
lens.
lens.
3 It produces mostly
3 It produces virtual
real images.
4 It is used to treat images.
4 It is used to treat
hypermeteropia
 myopia
HUMAN
EYE
 Explanatioon

 Cornea: This is the thin and transparent layer on the front surface of the
eyeball.
 It is the main refracting surface. When light enters through the cornea,
it refracts or bends the light on to the lens.
 Iris: It is the coloured part of the eye. It may be blue, brown or green in
colour. Every person has a unique colour, pattern and texture.
 Pupil: It is the centre part of the Iris. It is the pathway for the light to
retina.
 Retina: This is the back surface of the eye. It is the most sensitive part
of human eye, on which real and inverted image of objects is formed.
 Ciliary muscles – Eye lens is fixed between the ciliary muscles. It helps
to change the focal length of the eye lens according to the position of
the object.
 Eye Lens – It is the important part of human eye. It is convex in nature.
 Power of Accommodation

 The ability of the eye lens to focus nearby as well as the distant
objects is called power of accommodation of the eye.
 Persistence of vision
 If the time interval between two consecutive light pulses is less than
0.1 second, human eye cannot distinguish them separately. It is
called persistence of vision.
 The far point and near point of the human eye
 Near point of eye is 25 cm for normal human eye.
 Th e maximum distance up to which the eye can see objects clearly
is called as far point of the eye.
 DEFECTS IN EYE

Myopia Hypermeteropia

 Myopia, also known as  Hypermeteropia, also

short sightedness. known as long sightedness.
 Nearby objects can be seen  Distant objects can be seen
clearly but distant objects clearly but nearby objects
cannot be seen clearly. cannot be seen clearly.
 The image of distant  The image of nearby objects
objects are formed before are formed behind the
the retina. retina.
 This defect can be  This defect can be

corrected using a concave corrected using a convex

lens lens.
 Presbyopia

 Due to ageing, ciliary muscles become weak and the eye-

lens become rigid (inflexible) and so the eye loses its
power of accommodation.
 Aged person cannot see the nearby objects clearly. So, it is
also called as ‘old age hypermetropia’
 Some persons may have both the defects of vision - myopia
as well as hypermetropia. This can be corrected by ‘bifocal
lenses.
 Astigmatism
 It is due to the imperfect structure of eye lens because of
the development of cataract on the lens, ulceration of
cornea, injury to the refracting surfaces, etc. Astigmatism
can be corrected by using cylindrical lenses (Torrid lenses)
 MICROSCOPE

1. Simple microscope

2. Compound microscope
Simple microscope has a convex lens of short focal
length. It is held near the eye to get enlarged image of
small objects
Simple microscope uses
a) by watch repairers and jewellers.
b) to read small letters clearly.
c) to observe parts of flower, insects etc.
d) to observe finger prints in the field of forensic
science.
 Compound microscope

Compound microscope is also used to see the

tiny objects. It has better magnification power
than simple microscope.
A compound microscope consists of two convex
lenses.
Compound microscope has 50 to 200 times more
magnification power than simple microscope.
Travelling Microscope
A travelling microscope is one of the best
instrument for measuring very small length with
high degree of accuracy at the order of 0.01mm.
 TELESCOPE

Telescope is an optical instrument to see the distant

objects.
 The first telescope was invented by Johann
Lippershey in 1608.
 Galileo made a telescope to observe distant stars.
Kepler invented Telescope in 1611 which was
fundamentally similar to the astronomical telescope.
Types of Telescope
i) refracting telescope ii) reflecting telescope
Astronomical Telescope and Terrestrial Telescopes
are the two major types of telescope.
Astronomical Telescope
An astronomical telescope is used to view heavenly bodies like stars,
planets galaxies and satellites.
Terrestrial Telescopes
The image in an astronomical telescope is inverted. So, it is not
suitable for viewing objects on the surface of the Earth. Therefore, a
terrestrial telescope is used. It provides an erect image.
Advantages of Telescopes
Elaborate view of the Galaxies, Planets, stars and other heavenly
bodies is possible.
Camera can be attached for taking photograph for the celestial
objects.
Telescope can be viewed even with the low intensity of light.
Disadvantages
Frequent maintenances needed.
It is not easily portable one.
 Points to Remember

 Light is a form of energy which travels along a straight line

 The deviation in the path of light ray is called refraction.
 The ratio of speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in a
medium is defined as refractive index ‘μ’ of that medium.
 Lens formula
 Magnification (m)
 Power of lens.
 The ability of the eye to focus nearby as well as the distant objects is
called power of accommodation of the eye.
 A microscope is an optical instrument which helps us to see the
objects which are very small in dimension.
 Telescope is an optical instrument used to see the distant objects
clearly.
THANK U