Question

The deviation produced by an equilateral prism, when a ray of light is incident on it, does not depend on:

• A. Angle of prism
• B. Colour of light
• C. Material of the prism
• D. Size of the prism

Hint:

The deviation by a prism depends on the refractive index and the angle of the prism but not on its size.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

An equilateral prism is a type of optical prism with equal angles. When light passes through the prism, it undergoes refraction at both surfaces, leading to a deviation in its path. The amount of deviation is primarily influenced by the following factors:

• Angle of prism: The amount of deviation is dependent on the angle of the prism as it determines the geometry and path length through the material.
• Colour of light: Different colors of light (wavelengths) are refracted differently, causing variations in deviation due to dispersion.
• Material of the prism: The refractive index of the material affects how much bending occurs, as the deviation is proportional to the refractive index.

However, the size of the prism does not affect the deviation angle. This is because the deviation depends on the material's refractive properties and the geometry of the path within the prism, not on the external dimensions of the prism itself. Therefore, in this context, the size of the prism is irrelevant to the deviation produced.