- ⭐ – Most used in JEE
- ⚠️ – Common Mistake
- 💡 – Memory Hint
Reflection of Light
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laws of Reflection | [i = r] | [i] = angle of incidence, [r] = angle of reflection | — | Basic law ⭐ |
| Plane Mirror | [d_i = -d_o] | [d_i] = image distance, [d_o] = object distance | m | Image formed behind mirror |
💡 Memory Hint:
Angle in = Angle out
Spherical Mirrors
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror Formula | [\dfrac{1}{f} = \dfrac{1}{v} + \dfrac{1}{u}] | [f] = focal length, [v] = image distance, [u] = object distance | m | Most important ⭐ |
| Magnification | [m = \dfrac{h_i}{h_o} = -\dfrac{v}{u}] | [h_i] = image height, [h_o] = object height | — | Sign matters ⚠️ |
| Focal Length | [f = \dfrac{R}{2}] | [R] = radius of curvature | m | Standard relation ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Use sign convention carefully ⚠️
Refraction of Light
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snell’s Law | [n_1 \sin i = n_2 \sin r] | [n_1, n_2] = refractive indices | — | Basic law ⭐ |
| Refractive Index | [n = \dfrac{c}{v}] | [c] = speed of light, [v] = speed in medium | — | Optical density ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Denser medium → slower light
Total Internal Reflection (TIR)
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Angle | [\sin C = \dfrac{1}{n}] | [C] = critical angle | — | For denser → rarer ⭐ |
| Condition | [i > C] | — | — | TIR occurs ⚠️ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Only from denser to rarer medium
Refraction at Spherical Surface
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | [\dfrac{n_2}{v} – \dfrac{n_1}{u} = \dfrac{n_2 – n_1}{R}] | [n_1, n_2] = refractive indices, [R] = radius | m | Important ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Extension of mirror formula
Lenses
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lens Formula | [\dfrac{1}{f} = \dfrac{1}{v} – \dfrac{1}{u}] | [f] = focal length, [v] = image distance, [u] = object distance | m | Very important ⭐ |
| Magnification | [m = \dfrac{h_i}{h_o} = \dfrac{v}{u}] | [h_i] = image height, [h_o] = object height | — | No negative sign ⚠️ |
| Power of Lens | [P = \dfrac{1}{f}] | [P] = power (in diopters), [f] in meters | D | Used in optics ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Convex → positive [f], Concave → negative [f]
Combination of Lenses
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equivalent Focal Length | [\dfrac{1}{f} = \dfrac{1}{f_1} + \dfrac{1}{f_2}] | [f_1, f_2] = focal lengths | m | In contact ⭐ |
| Power Addition | [P = P_1 + P_2] | — | D | Simple addition ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Lenses in contact → powers add
Lens Maker’s Formula
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lens Maker | [\dfrac{1}{f} = (n – 1)\left(\dfrac{1}{R_1} – \dfrac{1}{R_2}\right)] | [n] = refractive index, [R_1, R_2] = radii | m | For thin lens ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Shape + material → focal length
Prism
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angle Relation | [A = r_1 + r_2] | [A] = prism angle | rad | Geometry relation |
| Deviation | [\delta = i + e – A] | [\delta] = deviation | rad | Path bending ⭐ |
| Minimum Deviation | [n = \dfrac{\sin\left(\dfrac{A + \delta_m}{2}\right)}{\sin\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)}] | [\delta_m] = min deviation | — | Important ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Minimum deviation → symmetrical path
Optical Instruments
Simple Microscope
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnification | [m = 1 + \dfrac{D}{f}] | [D] = least distance of distinct vision (~25 cm), [f] = focal length | — | Magnifies small objects ⭐ |
Compound Microscope
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnification | [m = \dfrac{L}{f_o} \cdot \dfrac{D}{f_e}] | [L] = tube length, [f_o, f_e] = focal lengths | — | Very high magnification ⭐ |
Astronomical Telescope
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnification | [m = \dfrac{f_o}{f_e}] | [f_o] = objective focal length, [f_e] = eyepiece focal length | — | For distant objects ⭐ |