What is understood by lateral displacement of light? Illustrate it with the help of a diagram. List any two factors on which the lateral displacement in a particular substance depends.
Solution:
A ray of light travels in a certain straight line path. After refraction through a glass slab, it emerges in a direction parallel to the original direction but slightly displaced from the line. This is called the lateral displacement.
A ray of light travels in a certain straight line path. After refraction through a glass slab, it emerges in a direction parallel to the original direction but slightly displaced from the line. This is called the lateral displacement.
The lateral displacement depends on the thickness of the slab, the incident and refraction angles.