Question 416: Ray Optics

Question

The figure shows surface XY separating two transparent media, medium -1 and medium -2 . The lines ab and cd represent wavefronts of a light wave traveling in medium -1 and incident on X Y. The lines ef and gh represent wavefronts of the light wave in medium -2 after refraction.

Accepted Answer

Since the wave fronts are parallel in each medium, the beam is also a parallel beam travelling in the direction perpendicular to the wave fronts. Since the beam would bend inside medium 2 when travelling from medium 1 , the second medium has the higher refractive index.
Trick : For plane wave fronts the beam of light is parallel.

Answer

parallel beam in each medium

Answer

convergent beam in each medium

Answer

divergent beam in each medium

Answer

divergent beam in one medium and convergent beam in the other medium.

Ray Optics

The figure shows surface XY separating two transparent media, medium -1 and medium -2 . The lines ab and cd represent wavefronts of a light wave traveling in medium -1 and incident on X Y. The lines ef and gh represent wavefronts of the light wave in medium -2 after refraction.

Choose the correct answer: