REFRACTION AT A CONVEX SPHERICAL SURFACE

New Cartesian sign convention

1. All distances are measured from the pole of the spherical surface.
2. The distances measured in the direction of incident light are positive.
3. The distances measured in the opposite direction on incident light are negative.

Assumptions used :

1. The object taken is a point object placed on the principal axis.

2. The aperture of the spherical refracting surface is small.

3. The incident and refracting rays make small angles with the principal axis so that the
sines or tangents of these angles may be taken equal to the angles themselves.

Derivation:
Figure shows formation of real image by the surface.

Draw NM perpendicular to principal axis.

Now, for ∆ NOC, i is the exterior angle.

From ∆ NIC ; γ = r + β or r = γ - β

Therefore, i = ∠NOM + ∠NCM = α + γ (exterior angle)

(4)

From ∆ NIC ; γ = r + β or r = γ - β

(5)

From (4) & (5)

𝑁𝑀 𝑁𝑀 𝑁𝑀 𝑁𝑀
n1 + = n2 −
𝑂𝑀 𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝐼

since P is very close to M, OM ≈ OP, MI ≈ PI & MC ≈ PC, Therefore

𝑁𝑀 𝑁𝑀 𝑁𝑀 𝑁𝑀
n1 + = n2 −
𝑂𝑃 𝑃𝐶 𝑃𝐶 𝑃𝐼

1 1 1 1
n1 + = n2 −
𝑂𝑃 𝑃𝐶 𝑃𝐶 𝑃𝐼

𝑛1 𝑛2 𝑛2 𝑛1
+ = −
𝑂𝑃 𝑃𝐼 𝑃𝐶 𝑃𝐶
𝑛1 𝑛2 𝑛 2 −𝑛 1
+ =
𝑂𝑃 𝑃𝐼 𝑃𝐶
𝑛1 𝑛2 𝑛 2 −𝑛 1
+ =
𝑂𝑃 𝑃𝐼 𝑃𝐶
𝑛1 𝑛2 𝑛 2 −𝑛 1
+ = [OP = -u; PI =+v ; PC = +R]
−𝑢 𝑣 𝑅
𝒏𝟐 𝒏𝟏 𝒏𝟐 −𝒏𝟏
− = (6)
𝒗 𝒖 𝑹
Equation (6) gives the relation between object and image distance in terms of refractive index of
the medium and radius of curvature of the curved spherical surface. This equation is valid for all
refractions from rarer to denser medium.

For the refractions from denser to rarer eq (6) becomes;

𝒏𝟏 𝒏𝟐 𝒏𝟏 −𝒏𝟐
− =
𝒗 𝒖 𝑹

Derivation of Lens formula

Consider an object AB placed perpendicular to the principal axis of a thin convex lens
between its F1 and 2F1. A real inverted and magnified image A∣B∣ is formed beyond 2F2 on other
side of the lens.

∆A∣B∣O and ∆ABO are similar

𝐴 ∣𝐵∣ 𝑂𝐵 ∣
= (1)
𝐴𝐵 𝑂𝐵

Also ∆A∣B∣F and ∆MOF are similar

𝐴 ∣𝐵∣ 𝐹𝐵 ∣
= or
𝑀𝑂 𝑂𝐹

𝐴 ∣𝐵∣ 𝐹𝐵 ∣
= [since MO = AB ] (2)
𝐴𝐵 𝑂𝐹

From (1) and (2),

𝑂𝐵 ∣ 𝐹𝐵 ∣ 𝑂𝐵 ∣ − 𝑂𝐹
= = (3)
𝑂𝐵 𝑂𝐹 𝑂𝐹

BO = -u ; 𝑂𝐵∣ = v ; OF = + f
Therefore (3) Becomes;
𝑣 𝑣−𝑓
= ; vf = -uv + uf or uv = uf – vf
−𝑢 𝑓

Dividing both sides by uvf, we get

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 Lens formula. It is applicable for

𝑢𝑣 𝑢𝑓 𝑣𝑓
= - ie; =𝒗− → convex and concave lens, and for
𝑢𝑣𝑓 𝑢𝑣𝑓 𝑢𝑣𝑓 𝒇 𝒖
both real and virtual images.
Combination of thin lenses in contact
L1, L2 – 2 thin lenses of focal length f1 and f2 respectively placed coaxially in contact with one
another.
L1 L2
O – point object on the principal axis.

OC1 – u

In the absence of second lens L2, the first lens L1 will form O C1 C 2 I I1

a real image I1 of O at a distance C1I1 = v1

V
therefore lens formula for L1, u
V1
1 1 1
= − (1)
𝑓1 𝑣1 𝑢

The image I1 act as a virtual object for L2 which finally forms its real image I at a distance v.
1 1 1
Therefore = − (2)
𝑓2 𝑣 𝑣1

Adding (1) and (2)

1 1 1 1 1 1
+ = − + ( − )
𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑣1 𝑢 𝑣 𝑣1

1 1 1 1
ie; + = − (3)
𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑣 𝑢

if ‘f’ is the equivalent focal length for the combination of thin lenses in contact, then
1 1 1
− = (4)
𝑣 𝑢 𝑓

From (3) & (4), we get

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝒇 𝒇𝟏 𝒇𝟐

Therefore eqivalent power: P = P1 +P2