JEE Advanced 2026Paper 2
- Exam
- JEE Advanced
- Year
- 2026
- Paper
- Paper 2
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Ray Optics
JEE Advanced 2026 · Paper 2 · Physics · Ray Optics
Consider two isosceles prisms 1 and 2 with prism angles A_1 and A_2...
Consider two isosceles prisms 1 and 2 with prism angles and and refractive indices and , respectively, as shown in the figure. The faces and are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the mirror . If a ray of light is incident on the face and emerges from the face , then the correct statement(s) is/are:

Options
- AIf both the prisms are at minimum deviation condition, then .
- BIf prism 2 is at minimum deviation condition, then $\sin i_1 = n_2 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right) is always true.
- CIf both the prisms 1 and 2 are thin and are at minimum deviation condition with angles of deviation and , respectively, then .
- DIf prism 1 is at minimum deviation condition, then $\sin i_2 = n_1 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_1}{2}\right) is always true.
Correct answer
A. If both the prisms are at minimum deviation condition, then .
Step-by-step solution
From the given geometry, faces and are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the horizontal mirror . Thus, and are vertical.
The normal to is horizontal. The ray emerging from Prism 1 makes an angle with this horizontal normal. By the law of reflection at mirror , the reflected ray also makes an angle with the horizontal.
This reflected ray is incident on the vertical face of Prism 2. The normal to is horizontal, so the angle of incidence is .
Evaluating option (4): If Prism 1 is at minimum deviation, . The condition for minimum deviation gives . Since , it follows that , yielding . Statement (4) is correct.
Evaluating option (1): If both prisms are at minimum deviation, and . Thus . Using the minimum deviation formula, and . Equating them gives . Statement (1) is correct.
Evaluating option (2): If only Prism 2 is at minimum deviation, . Since , we get , which does not imply in general. Statement (2) is incorrect.
Evaluating option (3): The dashed lines in the figure bisect the prism angles and . Since faces and are vertical, the angle bisector of Prism 1 makes an angle with the vertical, and the angle bisector of Prism 2 makes an angle with the vertical.
The angle between these bisectors is .
For thin prisms at minimum deviation, the deviation is , giving and .
Substituting these into the expression for , we get . Statement (3) is correct.
The normal to is horizontal. The ray emerging from Prism 1 makes an angle with this horizontal normal. By the law of reflection at mirror , the reflected ray also makes an angle with the horizontal.
This reflected ray is incident on the vertical face of Prism 2. The normal to is horizontal, so the angle of incidence is .
Evaluating option (4): If Prism 1 is at minimum deviation, . The condition for minimum deviation gives . Since , it follows that , yielding . Statement (4) is correct.
Evaluating option (1): If both prisms are at minimum deviation, and . Thus . Using the minimum deviation formula, and . Equating them gives . Statement (1) is correct.
Evaluating option (2): If only Prism 2 is at minimum deviation, . Since , we get , which does not imply in general. Statement (2) is incorrect.
Evaluating option (3): The dashed lines in the figure bisect the prism angles and . Since faces and are vertical, the angle bisector of Prism 1 makes an angle with the vertical, and the angle bisector of Prism 2 makes an angle with the vertical.
The angle between these bisectors is .
For thin prisms at minimum deviation, the deviation is , giving and .
Substituting these into the expression for , we get . Statement (3) is correct.