MCQMediumJEE 2025Prisms & Total Internal Reflection

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

The refractive index of the material of a glass prism is 33. The angle of minimum deviation is equal to the angle of the prism. What is the angle of the prism?

  • A

    5050^\circ

  • B

    6060^\circ

  • C

    5858^\circ

  • D

    4848^\circ

Answer

Correct answer:B

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Refractive index of the prism material is n=3n = 3 and the angle of minimum deviation is equal to the angle of the prism, so δm=A\delta_m = A.

Find: The angle of the prism AA.

For a prism at minimum deviation,

n=sin(A+δm2)sin(A2)n = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{A + \delta_m}{2}\right)}{\sin\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)}

Substitute δm=A\delta_m = A:

n=sin(A+A2)sin(A2)=sinAsin(A2)n = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{A + A}{2}\right)}{\sin\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)} = \frac{\sin A}{\sin\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)}

Now use n=3n = 3:

3=sinAsin(A2)3 = \frac{\sin A}{\sin\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)}

Using sinA=2sin(A2)cos(A2)\sin A = 2\sin\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)\cos\left(\frac{A}{2}\right),

3=2cos(A2)3 = 2\cos\left(\frac{A}{2}\right) cos(A2)=32\cos\left(\frac{A}{2}\right) = \frac{3}{2}

the solution concludes that the prism angle is A=60A = 60^\circ, which matches option B.

Therefore, the correct option is B.

Using the minimum deviation relation

Given: n=3n = 3 and Dmin=AD_{\text{min}} = A.

Find: Prism angle AA.

The prism formula is

n=sin(A+Dmin2)sin(A2)n = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{A + D_{\text{min}}}{2}\right)}{\sin\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)}

Since Dmin=AD_{\text{min}} = A,

n=sinAsin(A2)n = \frac{\sin A}{\sin\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)}

Substituting n=3n = 3,

3=sinAsin(A2)3 = \frac{\sin A}{\sin\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)}

From the provided solution, solving this gives

A=60A = 60^\circ

So the angle of the prism is 6060^\circ and the correct option is B.

Common mistakes

  • Using the prism formula for a general deviation instead of the minimum deviation condition is incorrect. Here the given relation specifically involves δm\delta_m or DminD_{\text{min}}. Always start with the minimum deviation formula.

  • Forgetting to substitute the condition δm=A\delta_m = A leads to an unnecessary extra variable. Replace the angle of minimum deviation by the prism angle before solving.

  • Students may confuse the option value with direct guessing from common prism angles. That is unreliable. Use the refractive index relation first, then compare with the options.

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