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Formula Cheat Sheet:
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Ray Optics
&
Optical Instruments
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Key Formulas & Tricks for Numerical
Problems
1. Sign Conventions (Cartesian)
§ Distances:
– Object distance (u): -ve if on incident side (real
object).
– Image distance (v): +ve if on reflected/refracted side
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(real image).
– Focal length ( f ): -ve for concave mirror, +ve for convex
mirror. +ve for convex lens, -ve for concave lens.
§ Heights:
§ +ve above principal axis, -ve below.
2. Mirror Formula & Magnification
§ Mirror Equation:
1 1 1
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= + (f = R/2 for spherical mirrors)
f v u
§ Magnification:
v
m=− (Negative sign → inverted image)
u
Trick: For concave mirrors, use f = −ve. For convex mirrors,
f = +ve. Always check if image is real (v = −ve) or virtual
(v = +ve).
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3. Lens Formula & Magnification
§ Lens Equation:
1 1 1
= −
f v u
§ Lens Maker’s Formula:
µ ¶
1 1 1
= (n 21 − 1) −
f R1 R2
§ R 1 and R 2: +ve if convex to incident light, -ve if
concave.
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§ Magnification:
v
m=
u
Trick: For convex lenses, f = +ve. For concave lenses,
n2
f = −ve. Use for relative refractive index.
n1
4. Refraction at Spherical Surface
n2 n1 n2 − n1
− =
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v u R www.cbse.page
§ Critical Angle:
n2
sin i c = (n 2 < n 1 for TIR)
n1
Trick: For total internal reflection (TIR), check if i > i c . Use
Snell’s law for angles.
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5. Prism
§ Angle of Deviation:
δ = i + e − A (A = prism angle)
§ Minimum Deviation:
A + δm
µ ¶
sin
2
n=
A
µ ¶
sin
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Trick: At minimum deviation, i = e and r 1 = r 2 = A/2.
6. Optical Instruments
§ Simple Microscope:
§ Magnification:
D D
m = 1+ (at near point), m= (at infinity)
f f
§ Compound Microscope:
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Ã! Ã !
L D
m = mo × me = ×
fo fe
§ Telescope:
fo
m=
fe
Trick: For microscopes, f o is small. For telescopes, f o is
large.
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7. Key Points to Remember
§ Ray Diagrams: Always sketch to determine image
nature (real/virtual, inverted/erect).
1
§ Power of Lens: P = (in diopters). For combinations,
f
P total = P 1 + P 2 + . . ..
1 1 1
§ Lens Combinations: Use = + .
f total f 1 f 2
§ Lateral Shift in Slab:
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sin(i − r )
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Shift = t ·
cos r
Common Mistakes to Avoid
§ Forgetting sign conventions for u, v, f , and radii.
§ Using mirror formula for lenses or vice versa.
§ Missing critical angle check in TIR problems.
Shortcuts
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§ For concave mirrors, if u > f , image is real; if u < f ,
image is virtual.
§ For convex lenses, if u > 2 f , image is real and
diminished.
§ Magnification: If |m| > 1, image is enlarged; |m| < 1,
diminished.
Practice Tip: Solve numericals by first noting given values,
assigning signs and symbols, and then applying formulas
step-by-step. Verify answers using ray diagrams!
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