Javier Pardo

Exercise 2

A ray of light in a medium with refractive index n1 incides on the surface of a

prism of angle 𝜃 made of a material with refractive index n2. The trajectory of the
beam changes inside the prism and changes again when the beam comes back to
the first medium. On this way the final beam has deviated from the initial one in an
angle 𝛿 , as the picture shows.
The picture is made for n1<n2. In the opposite case it’s similar but the real beam
would go over the projection of the initial beam, so the angle 𝛿 woul be negative.
We have to keep in mind that when the beam changes from a higher refractive
index medium to a lower one there is a critical angle above which there is not
refractive beam.

𝑛2 𝑛1
The angle of deviation is: 𝛿 = 𝛼 + arcsin[ 𝑛1 sen(𝜃 − arcsin (𝑛2 sin(𝛼)))] – 𝜃

It´s expressed as a function of the refractive index of both mediums, the

characteristic angle 𝜃 of the prism, and the incidence angle 𝛼 of the beam on the
surface of the prism.
 Let’s make a graphic to see how the deviation angle depends on the incidence
angle for a certain transition between two mediums and for a determined angle of
the prism.

Concretely we´ll make two graphics, one for a prism of angle 𝜃1=30° and another
for an angle 𝜃2=60°, and in both cases for the next transitions:

a) n1 = 1 (Air) ; n2 = 2.4 (Diamond)

b) n1 = 2.4 (Diamond) ; n2 = 1 (Air)
c) n1 = 1.33 (Water) ; n2 = 1.5 (Glass)
d) n1 = 1.5 (Glass) ; n2 = 1.33 (Water)
a) n1 = 1 (Air) ; n2 = 2.4 (Diamond)
In the first prism there is not deviation for angles lower than 13° aprox. This is
because when the incidence angle 𝛼 gets smaller then 𝛽′ gets larger, until it
reaches a critical value where there is total internal reflexion inside the prism.
When 𝛼 is more than 13° aprox the beam transfer the prism, and then the
deviation angle gets smaller when 𝛼 increases until 𝛿 reaches a minimun value.
Then 𝛿 increases again with 𝛼.
In the case of 60° prism there is not function. This means there is not a
deviation angle because 𝛽’ is higher than the critical angle for any value of 𝛼.

b) n1 = 2.4 (Diamond) ; n2 = 1 (Air)

The first medium has a higher refractive index and that´s why the deviation
angle appears as negative one. When 𝛼 increases the deviation gets smaller until 𝛿
gets a minimun value, then 𝛿 increases again until 𝛼 reaches its critical value so
there is not refractive beam, only reflexion.
When the angle of the prism is higher the angle of deviation is higher for the
same value of 𝛼, and the angle of incidence is higher too for the minimum
deviation.
c) n1 = 1.33 (Water) ; n2 = 1.5 (Glass)
When 𝛼 increases 𝛿 decreases until a minimum value, then the deviation angle
increases again. For he higher angle of the prism we have higher values of the
deviation angle and it reaches its minimum value for a higher value of 𝛼.

d) n1 = 1.5 (Glass) ; n2 = 1.33 (Water)

Similar to the second case. In the 30° prism the values of the deviation angle are
smaller and 𝛿 reaches its minimum value for a lower value of 𝛼 than in the 60°
prism. When 𝛼 reaches its critical value there is a total reflexion.

The deviation angle 𝛿 gets its minimum value when 𝛼=𝛼′ and 𝛽=𝛽′ . As the
angle of the prism is 𝜃= 𝛽+𝛽′ then we have 𝛽= 𝜃/2 and using the Snell's law the
incidence angle must be:
𝑛2 𝜃
𝛼 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑛1 sin(2) )

And as 𝛿 = 𝛼+𝛼′–𝜃 , we have for the minimum value of 𝛿:

𝛿 m = 2𝛼–𝜃

The values of 𝛼 and 𝛿 m to get a minimum deviation in the different cases:

a) n1 = 1 (Air) ; n2 = 2.4 (Diamond)

For 𝜃=30° : 𝛼 = 38.40° and 𝛿 m = 46.80°
For 𝜃=60° : 𝛼 = --- and 𝛿 m =---

b) n1 = 2.4 (Diamond) ; n2 = 1 (Air)

For 𝜃=30° : 𝛼 = 6.19° and 𝛿 m = -17.62°
For 𝜃=60° : 𝛼 = 12.02° and 𝛿 m =-35.95°

c) n1 = 1.33 (Water) ; n2 = 1.5 (Glass)

For 𝜃=30° : 𝛼 = 16.97° and 𝛿 m = 3.94°
For 𝜃=60° : 𝛼 = 34.33° and 𝛿 m =8.65°

d) n1 = 1.5 (Glass) ; n2 = 1.33 (Water)

For 𝜃=30° : 𝛼 = 13.27° and 𝛿 m = -3.47°
For 𝜃=60° : 𝛼 = 26.32° and 𝛿 m =-7.37°

The values correspond with the graphics, with negative values of 𝛿 m when the
first refractive index is higher, and without solution for the first case with the 60°
prism because of the total reflexion for any value of 𝛼.
We can also observe that 𝛿 m is always higher when 𝜃 is higher.