Dispersion Ray Optics:

Prism
Lecture - 2
Jayant Nagda
Physics Educator
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B.Tech, IIT Bombay

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Dispersion of Light
Dispersion of Light
Dispersion

Phenomenon of splitting up of white light

into rays of constituent colors.

The angular splitting of a ray of white light into

a number of components and spreading in different direction
is called Dispersion of light.
Cause of Dispersion
Because ‘μ’ depends on wavelength ‘λ’ of light

‘μ’ decreases as ‘λ’ increases

i.e. μ↓ as λ↑
V 400 nm
I 445 nm μViolet > μRed
B 475 nm
‘μ’ ‘λ’
decreases G 510 nm
increases
Y 570 nm
O 590 nm
R 650 nm
 Cause of Dispersion

Because ‘μ’ depends on wavelength ‘λ’ of light

Cauchy’s formula

A: positive constant (Cauchy’s constant)

V 400 nm
I 445 nm ‘μ’ decreases as ‘λ’ increases
B 475 nm
‘μ’
G 510 nm
‘λ’ i.e. μ ↓ as λ ↑
increases increases
Y 570 nm μBlue> μRed
O 590 nm
Hence deviation of
R 650 nm
violet is the most and
for red is the least.
Example MCQ type Question [ +4 , -1]
A ray of light is coming from air to water. Which of the following
figures show dispersion of light ?

A. B.

R
V
R V

C. D.

V R
R V
Terms 1. Angle of Dispersion (θ)
Angle between the rays of extreme colours
in the emergent (dispersed) light is called θ.

δR
R

δV

V
Terms 1. Angle of Dispersion (θ)
Angle between the rays of extreme colours
in the emergent (dispersed) light is called θ.

Deviation of a ray δ = A(μ - 1)

δR
R
θ = δV - δR
δV θ
Angle between violet and red
V

θ = ( μV -μR)A
Example MCQ type Question [ +4 , -1]

The refractive index of violet and red light are 1.54 and
1.52 respectively. If the prism angle is 100. The angular
dispersion is -
A. 0.020 B. 0.20 C. 3.060 D. 30.60
Terms 2. Dispersive Power (ω)

Ratio of angular dispersion θ to

the deviation of the mean ray (yellow) ઠY

V
Why Yellow is chosen for mean/avg ray

Color Wavelength (nm)

Violet 380 - 450 nm

Blue 450 - 495 nm

Green 495 - 560 nm

Yellow 560 - 590 nm

Orange 590 - 620 nm

Red 620 - 750 nm

Average of extremes = (380 + 750)/2 = 565

Falls Near Yellow
Terms 2. Dispersive Power (ω)

Ratio of angular dispersion θ to

the deviation of the mean ray (yellow) ઠY

R
δY
θ
V
Example MCQ type Question [ +4 , -1]

Two thin prisms of flint glass have refracting angles of

10° and 20°. The dispersive powers of these prisms are

A. 1 : 1 B. 2 : 1 C. 1 : 2 D. 4 : 1
Example Numerical Answer Type Question [ +4 , 0]

Find angular dispersion & dispersive power if

A = 100, μR = 1.58, μV = 1.71, μY = 1.65

answer is a single comment

(answer in proper units)
Deviation without Dispersion

An achromatic combination of two prisms in which

net dispersion is zero and deviation is produced

A
δ

A’
Deviation without Dispersion

An achromatic combination of two prisms in which

net dispersion is zero and deviation is produced

θnet = 0
A
δ θ + θ’ = 0

(μv - μR)A + (μ’v - μ’R)A’ = 0

OR

ωδ + ω’δ’ = 0
A’
Deviation without Dispersion

And total deviation

δnet = δ + δ’

= δ - (ω / ω’)δ As ωδ + ω’δ’ = 0

δnet = δ[1 - (ω / ω’)]

ω , ω’ : dispersive power of prisms

δ , δ’ : deviations of prisms
Example Numerical Answer Type Question [ +4 , 0]

Prism1 (60) μR = 1.55, μy = 1.60, μV = 1.65

Prism2 (A’) μR’ = 1.45, μy’ = 1.50, μV’ = 1.60
Find (A’) & δnet for deviation without dispersion
Example MCQ type Question [ +4 , -1]
Three thin prisms are combined as shown in figure. The
refractive indices of the crown glass for red, yellow and violet
rays are μr, μY and μV respectively and those for the flint glass
are μr’, μY’ and μV’ respectively. Find the ratio A’/A for which,
there is no net angular dispersion.
A.
A flint A
B.
crown A’ crown
C.

D.
Dispersion without Deviation
Such combination is called
“Direct Vision Prism”

δnet = 0

V
R
Dispersion without Deviation
Such combination is called
“Direct Vision Prism”

δnet = 0

δ + δ’ = 0
V
R (μ - 1)A + (μ’ - 1)A’ = 0

-ve sign shows second prism

should be inverted
Example Numerical Answer Type Question [ +4 , 0]

A thin prism P1 with angle 4º and made from glass of

refractive index 1.54 is combined with another thin prism P2
made from glass of refractive index 1.72 to produce dispersion
without deviation. What is the angle of prism in degree ?

40

A0
Example Numerical Answer Type Question [ +4 , 0]

Prism1 (50)μR = 1.55, μy = 1.60, μV = 1.65

Prism2 (A’) μR’ = 1.45, μy’ = 1.50, μV’ = 1.55

Find (A’) for dispersion without deviation

Dispersive Power of a Lens

When white light parallel to principal axis strikes a thin lens,

various colours go through various points on principal axis
Violet is bent the most, Red is bent the least

White V
∆f = fr - fv

Dispersion P
FV FR

ω = ∆f / fYellow
PFV = fv
Dispersive Power
PFR = fR
Daily Practice Problems
Example The deviation produced by a prism is :

A. Same for all wavelengths

B. Greatest for red and least for violet

C. Greatest for violet and least for red

D. The prism produces no deviation

Ans : C
Example When a beam of white light passes through a prism it splits
up into different colours, violet is bent most because
A. μ of glass for violet rays is smaller than for other rays

B. μ of glass for violet rays is greater than for other rays

C. μ is same for all colours but violet rays have smaller wavelength

D. μ is same for all colours but violet rays have longer

wavelength

Ans: B
Example Calculate the dispersive power for crown glass from the
given data μv = 0.5230, μr=1.5145
A. 20 B. 30 C. 0.01630 D. 2.50

Ans : C
Example
The respective angles of the flint and crown glass prisms are A'
and A. They are to be used for dispersion without deviation, then
the ratio of their angles A'/A will be

A. B.

C. D.

Ans: A
Example

Prism1 (50) μR = 1.613, μy = 1.620, μV = 1.632

Prism2 A’ μR’ = 1.514, μy’ = 1.517, μV’ = 1.523
Find (A’) & θnet for no deviation

Ans: 10.560, -2.360

Example The dispersive powers of flint glass and crown glass are 0.053 and
0.034 respectively and their mean refractive indices are 1.68 and
1.53 for white light. Calculate the angle of the flint glass prism
required to form an achromatic combination with a crown glass
prism of refracting angle 4º

A. 20 B. 40 C. 50 D. 60

Ans : A
Example A crown glass prism of refracting angle 6º is to be used for
deviation without dispersion with a flint glass of angle of
prism a. Given: for crown glass µr = 1.513 and µv = 1.523, for
flint glass µr = 1.645 and µv = 1.665. Find a

A. 30 B. 40 C. 4.50 D. 50

Ans : A
Example Find the angle of a prism of dispersive power 0.021 and
refractive index 1.52 to form an achromatic combination
with a prism of angle 4.20 and dispersive power 0.045
having refractive index 1.65

A. 11.25° B. 120 C. 110 D. 11.50

Ans : A
Example A prism ABC of angle 30º has its face AC silvered. A ray of
light incident at angle of 45º at the face AB retraces its
path after refraction at face AB and reflection at face AC.
The refractive index of the material of the prisms is

A. 1.5 B. 3/√2 C. √2 D. 4/3

A

Silvered
450

B C

Ans : C
Example A ray of light from a liquid (µ =√3) is incident on a system
of two right angled prism of refractive index and √3 and √2
as shown. The ray suffer zero deviation when emerges into
air from CD. The angle of incidence i is
A. 450 B. 600 C. 300 D. 900

B C

μ = √2
Liquid
Air
μ = √3
A D

Ans : A
Example Two identical thin isosceles prisms of refracting angle A and
refractive index m are placed with their bases touching each
other and this system can collectively act as a crude converging
lens. A parallel beam of light is incident on this system as
shown. The focal length of this so called converging lens is –

A. f = h/μA B. f = h/A A

C. f = h/(μ-1)A D. f = μh/μ-1

2h

Ans : C
Example Three isosceles right angled prisms of refractive indices μ1,
μ2 and μ3 are joined together so that the faces of the
middle prism are in contact each with one of the outside
prisms. If the ray passes through the composite block
undeviated, then value of μ12+ μ32 - μ22 is

A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 1

Ans : D
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