Refraction of light through the convex spherical surface

Derivation of refraction of light through the convex spherical surface:

Let us consider, a convex spherical surface which has radius of curvature $R$. If an object $O$ is placed at a distance $u$ from pole $P$ and its image $I$ is formed at distance $v$ from pole $P$ and the angle subtended by the object, image, and center of curvature is $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\gamma$ then from figure

In $\Delta MOC$

$i= \gamma + \alpha \qquad(1)$

In $\Delta MIC$

$r = \gamma + \beta \qquad(2)$

According to Snell's Law:

$\frac{sin \: i}{sin \: r} = \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}} \qquad(3)$

Here the aperture of the spherical surface is very small so point $M$ will be very close to point $P$ and angle $i$ and $r$ will be small. So

$sin \: i \approx i$
$sin \: r \approx r$

So equation $(3)$ can be written as

$\frac{ i}{ r} = \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}} \qquad(4)$

Now subtitute the value of $i$ and $r$ from equation $(1)$ and equation $(2)$ in equation $(4)$

$\frac{ \left( \gamma + \alpha \right)}{\left( \gamma + \beta \right)} = \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}} $

$ \left( \gamma + \alpha \right) n_{1} = \left( \gamma + \beta \right) n_{2} $

$ \gamma \: n_{1} + \alpha \: n_{1} = \gamma \: n_{2} + \beta \: n_{2} $

$ \gamma \: n_{1} - \gamma \: n_{2} = \beta \: n_{2} - \alpha \: n_{1} $

$ \left( n_{1} - n_{2} \right) \gamma = \beta \: n_{2} - \alpha \: n_{1} \qquad(5)$

Again here the aperture of the spherical surface is very small so point $N$ will be very close to point $P$. Therefore the angle $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\gamma$ will be very small. Then in $\Delta MON$

$\alpha = tan \alpha = \frac {MN}{ON} \approx \frac{MN}{OP} = \frac{h}{-u}$

Similarly for angle $\beta$ and $\gamma$, Apply in $\Delta MIN$ and $\Delta MCN$

$\beta = tan \beta = \frac {MN}{IN} \approx \frac{MN}{IP} = \frac{h}{-v}$

$\gamma = tan \gamma = \frac {MN}{CN} \approx \frac{MN}{CP} = \frac{h}{R}$

Now subtitute the value of $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\gamma$ from above in equation $(5)$

$ \left( \frac{h}{R} \right) \left( n_{1} - n_{2} \right) = \left( \frac{h}{-v} \right) n_{2} - \left( \frac{h}{-u} \right) n_{1} $

$ \frac{\left( n_{2} - n_{1} \right)}{R} = \frac{n_{2}}{v} - \frac{n_{1}}{u} $

This is the equation of refraction of light through a convex spherical surface.

Another form of the above equation:

$ n_{1} \frac{\left( \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}} - 1 \right)}{R} = n_{1} \frac{\frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}}}{v} - \frac{1}{u} $

$ n_{1} \frac{\left( \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}} - 1 \right)}{R} = n_{1} \frac{\left(\frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}}\right)}{v} - \frac{1}{u} $

$ \frac{\left( \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}} - 1 \right)}{R} = \frac{\left(\frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}}\right)}{v} - \frac{1}{u} $

$ \frac{\left( n - 1 \right)}{R} = \frac{n}{v} - \frac{1}{u} \qquad \left( \because \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}}= n\right) $

Where $n \rightarrow Refractive \: index \: of \: glass \: with \: respect \: to \: air$

This is another form of the equation of refraction of light through a convex spherical surface.