OPTICAL PATH vs. GEOMETRICAL PATH

Light has different prodigious properties. One of them is that light takes the time which is extremum. It means that the time should be either minimum or maximum.

One example which will help you to imagine the core of concept is of block. Imagine a block and now drop that block in air one time and then in water other time from same height. Now, you can imagine the timing in which the block will touch the ground.

Absolutely, the block will touch ground fatser in air than in water.

Similarly, we can think in case of light. As light will simply pass in air(vaccum) but will show reflection and refraction in water due to which its time changes. This change in time is either maximum or minimum.(Except normal incidence)

And the path it will follow in air is nothing but the geometrical path and the path it will travel in water is the optical path.

We can say simply, the actual path without any liquid (refractive index) is the geometrical path and when the light travels through any medium (liquid) then its path is said to be optical path.

28 Comments

  1. ANKITA says:

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    Liked by 6 people

    1. Thank you πŸ˜„

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ANKITA says:

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        Liked by 2 people

  2. samsahana says:

    Very well explained! Thank you!

    Liked by 4 people

  3. Very informative πŸ‘Œ

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Thank you πŸ˜„

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Priti says:

    Informative post.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Priti says:

        πŸ™‚

        Liked by 2 people

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    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you πŸ™‚

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  6. Diana says:

    Quite an informative post! Thanks for sharing dear

    Liked by 2 people

  7. PRAPTI GUPTA says:

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    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Seeker says:

    Good post explaining refractionπŸ‘πŸ»πŸ™πŸ»πŸ™πŸ»πŸ™πŸ» let me prod a little bit here if I may with a couple of queries.. we can understand how light refracts due to density change and light speed etc. But why does light behave this way? Do we see light because of light or only because of its reflection and refraction. If so can one not see light if there is no medium to stop or obstruct it? What obstructs light in empty space? We able to look into the past when we see stars and other celestial bodies.. food for thought. Keeping up the scientific temper and to explore and challenge our intellect is quite refreshing πŸ™‚πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ™πŸ»πŸ™πŸ»πŸ™πŸ»

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hello! Your query is pertinent. Light we see is only due to its properties of reflection and refraction, it is true. But when you talk about space, my friend space is not fully empty. In space, there are gases which is invisible for us but not for photons. Due to which in space also light shows its same properties as on earth.

      Like

  9. Nelson says:

    Reblogged this on Nelsapy.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. aruna3 says:

    Most valuable informational postπŸ™

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you πŸ˜„

      Like

      1. aruna3 says:

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        Liked by 2 people

  11. Anonymous says:

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    Liked by 2 people

    1. My pleasure πŸ˜„

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Ohhhhh wow! Wish there was someone who explained me things so nicely as your blog is doing right now!

    Liked by 2 people

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