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Optical path (OP) is the trajectory that a light ray follows as it propagates through an optical medium. The geometrical optical-path length or simply geometrical path length (GPD) is the length of a segment in a given OP, i.e., the Euclidean distance integrated along a ray between any two points.cite-ref-bass2009-1-0[1] The mechanical length of an optical device can be reduced to less than the GPD by using folded optics. The optical path length in a homogeneous medium is the GPD multiplied by the refractive index of the medium.

• Factors affecting optical path

• Simple materials used

• References

Path of light in medium, or between two media is affected by the following:

• Reflection

• Total internal reflection

• Refraction

• Dispersion of light

• Absorption

• Lenses

• Prisms

• Mirrors

• Transparent materials (e.g. optical filters)

• Translucent materials (e.g. frosted glass)

• Opaque materials

cite-note-bass2009-11. ↑ citerefbassdecusatisenochlakshminarayanan2009Bass, M.; DeCusatis, C.; Enoch, J.M.; Lakshminarayanan, V.; Li, G.; MacDonald, C.; Mahajan, V.N.; Van Stryland, E. (2009). Handbook of Optics, Third Edition Volume I: Geometrical and Physical Optics, Polarized Light, Components and Instruments(set). McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0-07-162925-6. Retrieved 2021-10-11.