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NEET 2024 · Prism, Dispersion & Scattering

Prism, Dispersion & Scattering question from NEET 2024

Q34NEET 2024Medium

Prism, Dispersion & Scattering

A light ray enters through a right angled prism at point PP with the angle of incidence 30∘30^\circ as shown in figure. It travels through the prism parallel to its base BCBC and emerges along the face ACAC. The refractive index of the prism is:

Figure

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Answer: (b)

ABCPQparallel to BCr₂ = critical anglegrazing
  1. Ray inside is parallel to BCBC, so r1=90∘−B=Cr_1 = 90^\circ - B = C at face ABAB and the angle of incidence on ACAC is r2=90∘−C=Br_2 = 90^\circ - C = B.
  2. It emerges along ACAC (grazing), so r2r_2 is the critical angle: μsin⁡B=1\mu \sin B = 1.
  3. At PP: sin⁡30∘=μsin⁡C=μcos⁡B⇒μcos⁡B=12\sin 30^\circ = \mu \sin C = \mu \cos B \Rightarrow \mu \cos B = \frac{1}{2}.
  4. Square and add: μ2=1+14=54\mu^2 = 1 + \frac{1}{4} = \frac{5}{4}
  5. So the answer is (b) μ=52\mu = \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}.
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