ASIAN
INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL
New Korola, NH 6, Dhulagori, Howrah, West Bengal 711302
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
2019-‘20
DETERMINATION OF REFRACTIVE
INDICES OF VARIOUS LIQUIDS USING A
HOLLOW PRISM
Submitted by : Projata Chakrabarti
Class XII-B
BONA FIDE CERTIFICATE
It is hereby to certify that, the original and genuine investigation
work has been carried out to investigate about the subject matter
and the related data collection and investigation has been
completed solely, sincerely and satisfactorily done by
Projata Chakrabarti
of Class XII, ASIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, regarding
the project titled,
“REFRACTIVE INDICES OF
VARIOUS
MEDIUMS”.
Signature of the Guide Principal’s Signature
Submitted for ALL India SENIOR SECONDARY
EXAMINATION at ASIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,
Howrah.
Internal Examiner External Examiner
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The successful completion of any task would be incomplete
without mentioning the names of those persons who helped to
make it possible. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude
in few words and respect to all those who helped me in the
completion of this project. It is my humble pleasure to
acknowledge my deep senses of gratitude to my Physics teacher,
Mr. Sanjeev Chatterjee
for his valuable support, constant help and guidance at each and
every stage, without which this project would not have come
forth. I also register my sense of gratitude to our principal,
Mrs. Vijay Lakshmi Kumar,
for her immense encouragement that has made this project
successful. I would also like to thank my friends and family for
encouraging me during the course of this project. Last, but not
the least, I would like to thank CBSE for giving us the
opportunity to undertake this project.
Project Overview
Aim
Apparatus required
Theory
Procedure
Observations
Conclusions
Precautions
Bibliography
Aim
To find out the refractive indices of different liquids using a
hollow prism
Apparatus Required
Hollow glass prism
Various liquids like water, dil. Sulphuric acid, benzaldehyde etc.
Bell pins
Drawing board
Theory
A prism is a transparent optical element with flat,
polished surfaces that refract light. Prisms can be made
from any material that is transparent including glass,
plastic and fluorite. A prism can be used to break light up
into its constituent spectral colours. Prisms can also be
used to reflect light, or to split light into components
with different polarizations.
The refractive index of the liquid is given by the formula:
U=sini/sinr=sin{(a+d)/2}/sin(a/2) where,
U=refractive index of the liquid
a= the angle of minimum deviation
d=angle of prism
i=angle of incidence
r=angle of refraction
Procedure
Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing board with help of
drawing pins.
Keep the prism and mark the outline of it as ABC.
Drop a normal PQ on the side AB.
Draw the angle of incidence in accordance with the normal PQ
and place 2 pins so that they appear to be in the straight line.
Place the prism filled with given sample of liquid ,on the
marked outline ABC.
Now take the pins and place them on the side AC so that all the
4 pins appear to be in same line.
Remove the prism and draw the line joining the points so
obtained.
Mark the diagram as shown in the figure.
Repeat this with different liquids and different angle of
incidence.
Observation
Water
U=sin{(60+22)/2}/sin(30) = 1.306
Dil. Sulphuric acid
U=sin{(60+25)/2}/sin(30) = 1.351
Benzaldehyde
U=sin{(60+40)/2}/sin(30) = 1.504
Conclusion
Refractive indices at room temperature:
Water:
Actual: 1.33
Experimental: 1.306
Dil . Sulphuric acid:
Actual: 1.355
Experimental: 1.351
Benzaldehyde:
Actual: 1.546
Experimental: 1.504
Precautions
Angle of incidence should lie between 35-60 degree.
Pins should be vertically fixed and should lie in same line.
Distance b/w two points should not be less than 10mm.
Same angle of prism should be used for all observation.
Arrow head should be marked to represent emergent and
incident ray.
Bibliography
I have taken the information written in this investigatory project
from the following sources:
1. Comprehensive Practical Physics Class XII by Laxmi
Publications.
2. Optics and Modern Physics – B.M Sharma
I have taken the diagram drawn in this investigatory project
from the following source:
1. New Simplified Physics Vol. II by S.L Arora and published
by Dhanpat Rai Publication.
