Question 353 marksShort AnswerSection C

(a) Draw the ray diagram for refraction of light through a glass prism and mark angle of refraction and angle of deviation.

(b) When the path of a light ray refracted through a glass prism is reversed how will the angle of deviation change? Explain.

Light — Reflection and Refraction
Refraction of Light

Official answer

(a) The ray diagram for refraction of light through a glass prism is shown below:


``diagram {"xrange": [44.0, 106.0], "yrange": [44.0, 106.0], "points": [{"x": 100.0, "y": 100.0, "label": ""}, {"x": 50.0, "y": 50.0, "label": ""}]} ``


(b) When the path of a light ray refracted through a glass prism is reversed, the angle of deviation remains the same. This is because the angle of deviation depends only on the angle of incidence and the refractive indices of the two media, which remain the same even when the path is reversed.

Answer keywords:refractionprismangle of deviation

Marking scheme

  1. 1.3 marks

Hint

Use Snell's law to relate the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction.

Quick oral answer

The angle of deviation of a prism is the angle between the incident ray and the emergent ray. It depends on the angle of incidence and the refractive indices of the two media. When the path of the light ray is reversed, the angle of deviation remains the same.

Common mistakes

  1. 1.Forgetting to label the angle of deviation in the ray diagram.
  2. 2.Thinking that the angle of deviation changes when the path is reversed.

Analysis and explanation

The ray diagram shows the refraction of light through a glass prism. The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted ray and the normal to the surface of the prism. The angle of deviation is the angle between the incident ray and the emergent ray. When the path of the light ray is reversed, the angle of incidence and the refractive indices of the two media remain the same, so the angle of deviation also remains the same.

Interesting facts

The angle of deviation of a prism depends on the angle of incidence and the refractive indices of the two media.

A prism can be used to disperse white light into its component colors.

Question details

Q35 of 39 questions

Board
CBSE
Class
Class 10
Subject
Science
Year
2026
Section
Section C
Marks
3
Type
Short Answer
Chapter
Light — Reflection and Refraction
Topic
Refraction of Light
Bloom's level
Understanding
Syllabus topic
Refraction of Light Through a Prism

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Frequently asked questions

How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2026?

This question carries 3 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2026 examination.

Which chapter does this question come from in Science?

This question is from the chapter "Light — Reflection and Refraction" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.

What topic does this question cover in Science?

This question covers the topic "Refraction of Light" from CBSE Class 10 Science.

What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2026 paper?

This is a Short Answer question from Section C in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2026 paper.