Notes from Toppers

Optics JEE Notes

1. Basic Concepts

1.1 Principles of Microscopy

  • Microscopy is the science of observing small objects that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
  • The magnifying power of a microscope is determined by the objective lens and the eyepiece.
  • The resolving power of a microscope is its ability to distinguish between two closely spaced objects.

1.2 Principles of Telescopy

  • Telescopy is the science of observing distant objects.
  • The magnifying power of a telescope is determined by the objective lens and the eyepiece.
  • The resolving power of a telescope is its ability to distinguish between two closely spaced stars.

1.3 Refraction of Light

  • Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
  • The index of refraction of a medium is a measure of how much light is bent when it passes from air to that medium.
  • The critical angle is the angle of incidence at which light is refracted so that it travels parallel to the boundary between two media.

1.4 Total Internal Reflection

  • Total internal reflection occurs when light is incident on a boundary between two media at an angle greater than the critical angle.
  • Total internal reflection is used in fiber optics to transmit light over long distances.

2. Microscopes

2.1 Simple Microscope

  • A simple microscope is a magnifying glass that consists of a single convex lens.
  • The magnifying power of a simple microscope is determined by the focal length of the lens.
  • The limitations of a simple microscope are that it has a low magnifying power and a small field of view.

2.2 Compound Microscope

  • A compound microscope is a microscope that uses two lenses, an objective lens and an eyepiece.
  • The magnifying power of a compound microscope is determined by the magnifying power of the objective lens and the magnifying power of the eyepiece.
  • The compound microscope has a greater magnifying power and a larger field of view than a simple microscope.

2.3 Resolving Power of a Microscope

  • The resolving power of a microscope is its ability to distinguish between two closely spaced objects.
  • The resolving power of a microscope is determined by the wavelength of light used and the numerical aperture of the objective lens.

2.4 Electron Microscope

  • An electron microscope is a microscope that uses electrons instead of light to produce images of objects.
  • Electron microscopes have a much greater resolving power than optical microscopes, and they can be used to image objects at the atomic level.

3. Telescopes

3.1 Reflecting and Refracting Types of Telescopes

  • Reflecting telescopes use mirrors to focus light, while refracting telescopes use lenses to focus light.
  • Reflecting telescopes have a number of advantages over refracting telescopes, including their large size, their ability to collect more light, and their freedom from chromatic aberration.

3.2 Components and Working Principle of Refracting Telescopes

  • The main components of a refracting telescope are the objective lens, the eyepiece, and the tube.
  • The objective lens gathers light from the object being observed and focuses it on the focal plane.
  • The eyepiece magnifies the image of the object formed by the objective lens.

3.3 Calculation of the Magnifying Power of a Refractor

  • The magnifying power of a refractor is determined by the focal length of the objective lens and the focal length of the eyepiece.
  • The magnifying power of a refractor is calculated by dividing the focal length of the objective lens by the focal length of the eyepiece.

3.4 Angular Magnification of a Telescope

  • The angular magnification of a telescope is the amount by which the telescope increases the apparent size of an object.
  • The angular magnification of a telescope is calculated by dividing the focal length of the objective lens by the focal length of the eyepiece.

3.5 Uses of Refracting Type Telescopes

  • Refracting telescopes are used for a variety of purposes, including astronomical observation, birdwatching, and target shooting.

3.6 Components and Working Principle of Reflecting Telescopes

  • The main components of a reflecting telescope are the primary mirror, the secondary mirror, and the eyepiece.
  • The primary mirror gathers light from the object being observed and reflects it to the secondary mirror.
  • The secondary mirror reflects the light from the primary mirror to the focal plane.
  • The eyepiece magnifies the image of the object formed by the primary mirror.

3.7 Comparison between Refracting and Reflecting Telescopes

  • Reflecting telescopes have a number of advantages over refracting telescopes, including their large size, their ability to collect more light, and their freedom from chromatic aberration.
  • Refracting telescopes are still used for some applications, such as astronomical observation, because they are relatively easy to use and maintain.

3.8 Types of Reflecting Telescopes

  • There are three main types of reflecting telescopes: Newtonian, Cassegrain, and Schmidt-Cassegrain.
  • Newtonian telescopes are the simplest type of reflecting telescope, and they consist of a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, and an eyepiece.
  • Cassegrain telescopes have a more complex optical design than Newtonian telescopes, but they offer a number of advantages, such as a shorter focal length and a wider field of view.
  • Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes are a hybrid of Newtonian and Cassegrain telescopes, and they offer the advantages of both types of telescopes.

3.9 Resolving Power of a Telescope

  • The resolving power of a telescope is its ability to distinguish between two closely spaced objects.
  • The resolving power of a telescope is determined by the diameter of the objective lens or the primary mirror.

3.10 Telescopic Magnification

  • Telescopic magnification is the amount by which the telescope increases the apparent size of an object.
  • Telescopic magnification is calculated by dividing the focal length of the objective lens or the primary mirror by the focal length of the eyepiece.

4. Aberration in Optical Instruments

4.1 Chromatic Aberration

  • Chromatic aberration is the bending of light of different colors at different angles when it passes through a lens or a prism.
  • Chromatic aberration causes images to appear with a colored fringe around them.

4.2 Spherical Aberration

  • Spherical aberration is the bending of light rays parallel to the principal axis of a lens, but a


Table of Contents