Comparing Refraction through a rectangular parallel surfaced glass block and Refraction through a glass prism

Last updated on April 14th, 2021 at 05:21 pm

Compare Refraction through a rectangular parallel surfaced glass block and Refraction through a glass prism – a ray of light from the air when passes through a rectangular glass block with parallel surfaces then refraction happens twice – (1) when light enters from air to glass and (2) when it comes out of the glass block to the air.

Similarly, a ray of light suffers refraction twice as it enters from air to glass prism and then again comes out of it to air.

But there are few important differences between these 2 events. We will list down a few of those differences here.

Compare Refraction through a rectangular parallel surfaced glass block and Refraction through a glass prism

Here goes the list of differences between Refraction through parallel surfaced glass block and Refraction through a glass prism

1 ] The refracting surfaces of the glass block are parallel to each other. but the refracting surfaces of the glass prism are inclined to each other. This difference in shape plays an important role in the different behavior seen in these 2 cases.

2 ] In the case of the glass block the emergent ray and the incident ray are parallel to each other. but this is not true for glass prism refraction.

3 ] Angle of emergence and angle of incidence in case of glass block are equal. But this is not true in case of a glass prism.

4 ] Deviation angle in the case of glass block is zero. But glass prism refraction causes a non-zero deviation of the ray of light.

Relevant study: glass block refraction

Relevant study: Refractive Index numerical problems