Refraction of light through plane and curved surfaces: JAMB Physics Past Questions and Answers

What the JAMB syllabus covers in Refraction of light through plane and curved surfaces

Our summary: How light bends between materials, total internal reflection, prisms and lenses.

• Laws of refraction
• Explanation of refraction in terms of velocity of light in the media
• Definition of refractive index of a medium
• Determination of refractive index of glass and liquid using Snell's law
• Real and apparent depth and lateral displacement
• Critical angle and total internal reflection
• Glass prism ((i) use of the minimum deviation formula: $\mu = \frac{\sin\frac{A + D}{2}}{\sin\frac{A}{2}}$; (ii) type of lenses; triangular, rectangular etc.; (iii) use of lens formula: $\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{u} + \frac{1}{v}$ and Newton's formula ($f^2 = ab$); (iv) magnification.)

Objectives

• interpret the laws of reflection;
• determine the refractive index of glass and liquid using Snell's law;
• determination of focal length of curved surfaces;
• determine the refractive index using the principle of real and apparent depth;
• determine the conditions necessary for total internal reflection;
• examine the use of periscope, prism, binoculars, optical fibre;
• apply the principles of total internal reflection to the formation of mirage;
• use of lens formula and ray diagrams to solve optical numerical problems;
• determine the magnification of an image;
• calculate the refractive index of a glass prism using minimum deviation formula;
• ray tracing through optical prism.

Syllabus content © The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (UTME).