Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

The topic discusses several definitions of ray optics. It briefs on the terms like pole, centre of curvature, radius of curvature, principal axis, aperture, etc., with the help of figures.

In this topic, we will learn the reflection of light at plane surfaces. It briefs the important terms related to reflection with the help of figures and definition. The rules for the image formed by plane surfaces are also mentioned here.

This topic explains the reflection of light by concave and convex mirrors. It includes the focal length, radius of curvature, and mirror formula for both the mirrors. It also explains the position, nature of image and the uses of spherical mirrors.

This topic explains the refraction of rays from plane surfaces. The angle of incidence and angle of refraction are also explained here.

In this topic, we will learn that atmospheric refraction is a deviation of a light ray passing through the atmosphere. This phenomenon takes place due to the presence of layers of air of different densities. The sun appears bigger during sunset or sunrise due to this phenomenon.

The topic helps us learn the critical angle with the help of a figure, its relation with the refractive index, and its importance. It explains the total internal reflection and its applications.

From this topic, we will learn the refraction of light by concave and convex spherical surfaces. It explains the angle of incidence, refraction, and the power of refracting surfaces along with the refractive index in the rarer and dense media.

This topic explains the refraction of light by thin lenses and their image formation. It includes the lens makers’ formula and the Gaussian form of the lens equation. We will study ray diagrams for image formation by concave and convex lenses.

In this topic, we will study the refraction of light through prism, angle of deviation and its dependence, and deviation produced by a thin prism. It also explains the angular dispersion by a prism and its dependence with the help of a figure.

In this topic, we will learn about scattering of light, a phenomenon of the radiation of light in all possible directions after being absorbed by a particle of diameter larger than the wavelength of light. The sun appears yellow due to this phenomenon.

This topic describes various optical instruments and their magnifying power with the help of figures. It covers simple and compound microscopes, astronomical and reflecting telescopes, and their construction and image formation.

In this topic, we will learn about the resolving power of optical instruments. This is explained through a diagram in which real image is formed by the objective lens of the microscope.