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Question 17

A prism of refractive index $$\mu$$ and angle of prism $$A$$ is placed in the position of minimum angle of deviation. If minimum angle of deviation is also $$A$$, then in terms of refractive index,

We begin with the well-known prism formula that relates the refractive index $$\mu$$, the angle of the prism $$A$$ and the minimum angle of deviation $$D_{\min}$$. The formula is

$$\mu \;=\; \frac{\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A + D_{\min}}{2}\right)}{\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)}.$$

In the statement of the question it is given that the prism is adjusted so that the minimum deviation itself equals the prism angle, that is

$$D_{\min} \;=\; A.$$

Substituting this equality into the formula, we obtain

$$\mu \;=\; \frac{\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A + A}{2}\right)}{\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)} \;=\; \frac{\sin\!\left(\dfrac{2A}{2}\right)}{\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)} \;=\; \frac{\sin(A)}{\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)}.$$

Now we expand $$\sin(A)$$ using the double-angle identity $$\sin(2\theta)=2\sin\theta\cos\theta$$. Taking $$\theta=\dfrac{A}{2}$$ we have

$$\sin(A) \;=\; 2\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)\cos\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right).$$

Substituting this value of $$\sin(A)$$ back into the expression for $$\mu$$ gives

$$\mu \;=\; \frac{2\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)\cos\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)}{\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)} \;=\; 2\cos\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right).$$

The factor $$\sin\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right)$$ in numerator and denominator cancels completely, leaving the clean relation

$$\cos\!\left(\dfrac{A}{2}\right) \;=\; \frac{\mu}{2}.$$

To express $$A$$ explicitly, we take the inverse cosine of both sides:

$$\dfrac{A}{2} \;=\; \cos^{-1}\!\left(\frac{\mu}{2}\right).$$

Finally, multiplying both sides by 2 yields the required formula for the prism angle in terms of its refractive index:

$$A \;=\; 2\,\cos^{-1}\!\left(\frac{\mu}{2}\right).$$

Among the provided options this expression matches exactly with Option A.

Hence, the correct answer is Option A.

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