Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-2-paper-of-the-university-of-oxford/2021-resit/9/b/solution
Past exam of the physics 2 paper of the University of Oxford 2021 resit 9 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
Let be the internal angle of refraction values measured from the two face normals, and let be the external incidence and emergence angles. Geometry of an optical prism gives and total deviation .
For an isosceles optical prism whose internal beam is parallel to its base, reflection symmetry gives . Applying Snell's law at both faces, with air refractive index approximated by one, gives . For transmitted forward rays, , so . HenceThis is the symmetric minimum deviation geometry at a single wavelength. Transmission requires ; otherwise the proposed symmetric path cannot enter and leave through the two faces.
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