CONTENTS
• CERTIFICATE
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
• INTRODUCTION
• OBJECTIVE / AIM
• APPARATUS / MATERIAL REQUIRED
• DIAGRAM
• THEORY
• PROCEDURE
• OBSERVATIONS
• CALCULATIONS
• RESULTS
• PRECAUTIONS
• SOURCES OF ERRORS
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION
In optics, the refractive index or index of refraction n of
a material is a dimensionless number that describes
how light propagates through that medium. It is defined as
𝐂
𝐧=
𝐕
Where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the phase
velocity of light in the medium. For example, the refractive
index of water is 1.333; meaning that light travels 1.333 times
faster in a vacuum than it does in water
Refraction of a light ray
AIM
To find the refractive indexes of (a) water
(b) oil using a plane mirror, an equi-convex
lens, and an adjustable object needle.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
✓ Convex Lens
✓ Plane Mirror
✓ Water
✓ Oil
✓ Clamp Stand
✓ An Optical Needle
✓ Plumb Line
✓ Knitting Needle
✓ Half Meter Scale
✓ Glass Slab
✓ Spherometer
DIAGRAMS
THEORY
1. If f1 and f2 be the focal length of the glass convex
lens and liquid lens and f be the focal length of their
combination then:-
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝐅𝐟𝟐
= + or f2 =
𝐅 𝐟𝟏 𝐟𝟐 𝐟𝟏 −𝐅
2. Liquid lens formed a Plano-concave Lens with
R1=R and R2=∞ then by using lens make’s formula
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= (𝐧 − 𝟏) ⌊ − ⌋
𝐟𝟐 𝐑𝟏 𝐑𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= (𝐧 − 𝟏 ) ⌊ − ⌋
𝐟𝟐 𝐑𝟏 ∞
𝟏 𝟏
= (n-1)⌊ − 𝟎⌋
𝐟𝟐 𝐑
𝟏 𝐧−𝟏
=
𝐟𝟐 𝐑
𝐑
n= +𝟏
𝐟𝟐
where n = Refractive index of the liquid
R = the radius of the curvature of the convex
lens.
3. The radius of the lower surface of the convex
lens is given by:
𝐥𝟐 𝐡
R = +
𝟔𝐡 𝟐
Here, l is the average distance between the legs of
the spherometer and h is the difference in the
reading of the spherometer when placed first on
the convex lens and then on plane mirror.
PROCEDURE
(a) For focal length of convex lens:
1. Find the rough focal length of the convex lens.
2. Place a plane mirror on the horizontal base of the
iron stand and then a convex lens on the plane
mirror.
3. Hold the needle in the clamp stand and adjust its
position on the stand such that there is no parallax
between tip of the needle and its image.
4. Measure distance between tip and upper surface
of the lens by using a plumb line and half meter
scale. Also measure the distance between tip of
needle and upper surface of the mirror. Take the
mean of the two readings. This means distance will
be equal to the focal length of the convex lens (f1).
(b) For focal length of the combination.
5. Put a few drops of the water on the plane mirror
and put the convex lens over it with its same face
above as before. The water spreads in a form of
layer and acts like a Plano-concave lens.
6. Repeat the steps 3 and 4 to determine the
equivalent focal length of the combination.
7. Record the observation.
8. Repeat the steps 5, 6, 7 for other transparent
liquid (oil).
(c) For radius of curvature of convex lens surface:
9. Determine the pitch and the least count of the
spherometer.
10. Remove the convex lens and dry it completely.
Put the spherometer on this lens surface.
11. All the three legs of the spherometer should be
placed symmetrically on the lens and adjust the
central screw tip to touch the surface of the lens.
12. Remove the spherometer from the surface of
the lens and place on the plane mirror surface and
record the reading.
13. Repeat the steps 10 and 11 three times.
14. Obtain the impressions of the three legs of the
spherometer on a paper and mark them and their
average distance.
𝐥𝟏 + 𝐥𝟐 + 𝐥𝟑
l=
𝟑
OBSERVATIONS
1. Pitch of the spherometer= 1 cm
2. Least count of the spherometer = 0.01 cm
3. Distance between the legs:
(1) AB = 3 cm
(2) BC = 3 cm
(3) CA = 3 cm
Table for calculation of ‘h’
S.No Initial No. of Final Additional h=n x Mean
reading of complete reading of C.S div. pitch “h”
the C.S. on rotations the c.s on moved + m x (cm)
the convex the glass L.C
lens (n) slab
(a)
1 62 0 6.5 55.5 0.555 0.5775
2 64 0 4 60 0.6
To measure focal length ‘f’ of convex lens
Distance of needle tip from
Area S.No Tip of the upper Upper Mean Focal
between surface of the surface of x= 𝐱𝟏 + 𝐱𝟐 Length
𝟐
lens and convex lens(cm) the plane (cm)
plane X1 mirror(cm)
mirror X2
Without 1 30.5 31 30.75 f1=
liquid 33.85
2 36.7 37.2 36.95
With water 1 31.4 31.8 31.6 f2=34.7
2 37.5 38.1 37.8
With oil 1 9.4 9.6 9.5 f3=10
2 10.4 10.6 10.5
CALCULATIONS
1. Mean distance between two legs
AB+BC+CA
l= = 3 cm
3
(0.555+0.6)
Mean of h = = 0.5775 cm
2
2. To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens:
l2 h
R= + = 2.8861 cm
6h 2
3. Measurement of refractive indices of water and oil
A. With water between the convex lens and the plane
mirror:
R 2.8861
μ1 = 1 + = 1 + = 1.0831
f2 34.7
B. With oil between the convex lens and the plane
Mirror
R 2.8861
μ2 = 1 + = 1+ = 1.2886
f3 10
RESULTS
1. The refractive index of water is µ1 = 1.0831
2. The refractive index of oil is µ2 = 1.2886
PRECAUTIONS
1. The plane mirror should be clean and fully shining
surface.
2. The liquid taken should be transparent.
3. The parallax should be removed tip to tip.
4. The eye should be at a distance about 30 cm from
the needle while removing the parallax.
5. Only few drops of liquid should be taken so that its
layer should be thick.
6. The legs of the spherometer should be vertical.
7. The centre leg of the spherometer should turn in
one direction only.
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. Liquid may not be quite transparent.
2. The parallax may not be fully removed.
3. The spherometer legs should be placed
symmetrical on the surface of the convex lens.
4. The tip of the central screw should not just touch
the surface of lens or mirror.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• HELP FROM INTERNET
• HELP FROM TEACHERS
• NCERT TEXTBOOK
• NCERT Physics Lab Manual
• www.google.com
• www.scribd.com
• www.wikipedia.com
