Important formulae & basic concepts

Chapter: Ray Optics & Optical instruments & Wave Optics

XII Physics

All distances are measured in meter (m)

Snell’s law states n is refractive index
n = sin i/ sin r i is the angle of incidence
r is the angle of refraction
Sign convention distances measured in the same direction as
incident light is positive
Distances measured in the opposite direction
is negative
All distances are measured from the pole
Mirror equation u is object distance; v is image distance and
1 1 1 f is focal length
+ =
v u f
Sign of focal length of mirror f is negative for concave mirror;
f is positive for convex mirror
Magnification of a spherical mirror m is positive then image is erect; m is
m = -v/u negative then image is inverted
n sin[(A + Dm ) / 2] n2 is refractive index of prism material
For prism n21 = 2 = n1 is refractive index of surrounding medium
n1 sin(A / 2)
A is the angle of prism
Dm is the angle of minimum deviation
For spherical interface n1 is refractive index to the left of the
n2 n1 n2 − n1 refracting surface
− = n2 is refractive index to the right of the
v u R
refracting surface
1 1 1 u is object distance(m); v is image distance
Thin lens formula − =
v u f and f is focal length
Distances measured in the same direction as
incident light is positive
Distances measured in the opposite direction
is negative
All distances are measured from the optical
centre

Lens maker’s formula R1 and R2 are the radii of curvature of the

1 (n2 − n1 )  1 1  lens surfaces
=  −  n2 is the r.i. of the lens and n1 is the r.i. of
f n1  R1 R 2  surrounding medium
Power of lens Power is positive for a converging lens;
P = 1/f negative for diverging lens. Unit: dioptre(D)

Power of combination of lenses

P = P1 + P2 + P3 + ...
Magnifying power of a simple microscope D
m =1+ for object at least distance of
f
distinct vision
D
m= if image is at infinity
f
Magnifying power of a compound  L D
microscope m =   
 fO   fe 
fO is focal length of objective
feis focal length of eye lens

Magnifying power of a telescope fO

m=
fe
fO is focal length of objective
feis focal length of eye lens
Wavelength of light in a medium of n is the refractive index of the medium
refractive index n is λ is the wavelength of incident light
λ λn is the wavelength of refracted light
n=
λn
Young’s double slit experiment , d is the distance between the slits
conditions for maximum and minimum θ is the angle the light path makes with the
intensity are central axis
dsin θ = mλ for m = 0, 1, 2,... for bright fringes
dsin θ = (m + 1 / 2)λ for m = 0, 1, 2,... for dark

Young’s double slit experiment D is the distance of the slits from the screen
λD d is the distance between the slits
Fringe width is β =
d λ is the wavelength of incident light
λ
Angular width of fringes is
d
Diffraction at a single slit of width ‘a’ gives λ is the wavelength of incident light
zero intensity at angles of ‘a’ is the width of the slit
λ 2λ 3λ
± ,± ,± etc.
a a a
Secondary maximas are at
3λ 5λ
0, ± ,± etc.
2a 2a
Resolving power of a microscope is the n is r.i. of medium between the object and
reciprocal of minimum separation of two objective lens
points (dmin) to be seen as distinct. λ is the wavelength of incident light
1 2n sin β 2β is the angle subtended by the diameter
Re solving power = =
dmin 1.22λ of objective lens at the focus of the microscope.

Fresnel distance is the distance beyond λ is the wavelength of incident light

which spread of the beam due to ‘a’ is the width of the slit
diffraction is more than the size a of the
slit is significant.
a2
z=
λ
Brewster’s law states that The angle of incidence iB is called Brewster’s
n = taniB angle.
Malus’ law states that the intensity of I0 is the intensity of initially unpolarized light
transmitted light is I = I0 cos2 θ and θ is the angle between the polarization
direction of the original light and the
polarizing direction of the sheet.