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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 A1A_1 and A2A_2 and refractive indices n1n_1 and n2n_2, respectively, as shown in the figure. The faces a1b1a_1 b_1 and a2b2a_2 b_2 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the mirror MM. If a ray of light is incident on the face a1c1a_1 c_1 and emerges from the face a2c2a_2 c_2, then the correct statement(s) is/are:
Consider two isosceles prisms 1 and 2 with prism angles A_1 and A_2 and refractive indices n_1 and n_2 , respectively,

Options

  1. AIf both the prisms are at minimum deviation condition, then n2n1=sin⁡(A12)/sin⁡(A22)\dfrac{n_2}{n_1} = \sin\left(\dfrac{A_1}{2}\right) / \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right).
  2. BIf prism 2 is at minimum deviation condition, then $\sin i_1 = n_2 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right) is always true.
  3. CIf both the prisms 1 and 2 are thin and are at minimum deviation condition with angles of deviation δm1\delta_{m1} and δm2\delta_{m2}, respectively, then θ=δm12(n1−1)+δm22(n2−1)\theta = \dfrac{\delta_{m1}}{2(n_1 - 1)} + \dfrac{\delta_{m2}}{2(n_2 - 1)}.
  4. 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 n2n1=sin⁡(A12)/sin⁡(A22)\dfrac{n_2}{n_1} = \sin\left(\dfrac{A_1}{2}\right) / \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right).

Step-by-step solution

From the given geometry, faces a1b1a_1b_1 and a2b2a_2b_2 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the horizontal mirror MM. Thus, a1b1a_1b_1 and a2b2a_2b_2 are vertical.

The normal to a1b1a_1b_1 is horizontal. The ray emerging from Prism 1 makes an angle e1e_1 with this horizontal normal. By the law of reflection at mirror MM, the reflected ray also makes an angle e1e_1 with the horizontal.

This reflected ray is incident on the vertical face a2b2a_2b_2 of Prism 2. The normal to a2b2a_2b_2 is horizontal, so the angle of incidence is i2=e1i_2 = e_1.

Evaluating option (4): If Prism 1 is at minimum deviation, i1=e1i_1 = e_1. The condition for minimum deviation gives sin⁡i1=n1sin⁡(A12)\sin i_1 = n_1 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_1}{2}\right). Since i2=e1i_2 = e_1, it follows that i2=i1i_2 = i_1, yielding sin⁡i2=n1sin⁡(A12)\sin i_2 = n_1 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_1}{2}\right). Statement (4) is correct.

Evaluating option (1): If both prisms are at minimum deviation, i1=e1i_1 = e_1 and i2=e2i_2 = e_2. Thus i1=e1=i2=e2i_1 = e_1 = i_2 = e_2. Using the minimum deviation formula, sin⁡i1=n1sin⁡(A12)\sin i_1 = n_1 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_1}{2}\right) and sin⁡i2=n2sin⁡(A22)\sin i_2 = n_2 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right). Equating them gives n1sin⁡(A12)=n2sin⁡(A22)⇒n2n1=sin⁡(A12)sin⁡(A22)n_1 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_1}{2}\right) = n_2 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right) \Rightarrow \dfrac{n_2}{n_1} = \dfrac{\sin\left(\dfrac{A_1}{2}\right)}{\sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right)}. Statement (1) is correct.

Evaluating option (2): If only Prism 2 is at minimum deviation, sin⁡i2=n2sin⁡(A22)\sin i_2 = n_2 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right). Since i2=e1i_2 = e_1, we get sin⁡e1=n2sin⁡(A22)\sin e_1 = n_2 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right), which does not imply sin⁡i1=n2sin⁡(A22)\sin i_1 = n_2 \sin\left(\dfrac{A_2}{2}\right) in general. Statement (2) is incorrect.

Evaluating option (3): The dashed lines in the figure bisect the prism angles A1A_1 and A2A_2. Since faces a1b1a_1b_1 and a2b2a_2b_2 are vertical, the angle bisector of Prism 1 makes an angle A12\dfrac{A_1}{2} with the vertical, and the angle bisector of Prism 2 makes an angle A22\dfrac{A_2}{2} with the vertical.

The angle θ\theta between these bisectors is θ=A12+A22\theta = \dfrac{A_1}{2} + \dfrac{A_2}{2}.

For thin prisms at minimum deviation, the deviation is δm=(n−1)A\delta_m = (n - 1)A, giving A1=δm1n1−1A_1 = \dfrac{\delta_{m1}}{n_1 - 1} and A2=δm2n2−1A_2 = \dfrac{\delta_{m2}}{n_2 - 1}.

Substituting these into the expression for θ\theta, we get θ=δm12(n1−1)+δm22(n2−1)\theta = \dfrac{\delta_{m1}}{2(n_1 - 1)} + \dfrac{\delta_{m2}}{2(n_2 - 1)}. Statement (3) is correct.
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