Term – II

Class – XII Subject: Physics Experiment (2021_22)

Exp. No Aim
To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u and v or
5
between 1/u and 1/v.
6 To find the focal length of a convex mirror, using a convex lens.
To determine angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a
7
graph between angle of incidence and angle of deviation
To draw the I-V characteristic curve for a p-n junction diode in forward bias
8
and reverse bias.
Activities
To identify a diode, an LED, a resistor and a capacitor from a mixed collection
4
of such items.
5 To observe polarization of light using two Polaroids
6 To observe diffraction of light due to a thin slit
 Experiment – 5
Aim
To find, the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u and v or between 1/u and
1/v.

Apparatus
An optical bench with three uprights (central upright fixed, two outer uprights with lateral
movement), a convex lens with lens holder, two optical needles, (one thin, one thick) a knitting
needle and a half metre scale.

Theory
The relation between u, v and f for a convex lens is

where,
f = focal length of convex lens
u = distance of object needle from optical centre of the lens
v = distance of image needle from optical centre of the lens.
Ray diagram

Procedure
To determine rough focal length

1. Mount the concave mirror in mirror holder.

2. Go out in the open and face the mirror towards distant tree or building.
3. Obtain the image of the tree or the building on a white painted wall (screen) and move the
mirror forward and backward to get a sharp image on the wall.
4. Measure the distance between the mirror and the wall (screen). This will be equal to the
rough focal length of the mirror.
To set the lens
5. Clamp the holder with lens in a fixed upright and keep the upright at 50 cm mark.
 6. Adjust the lens such that its surface is vertical and perpendicular to the length of the optical
bench.
7. Keep the upright fixed in this position throughout.
To set the object needle
8. Take the thin optical needle as object needle (O). Mount it in outer laterally move¬able
upright near zero end.
9. Move the object needle upright and clamp it at a distance (in full cms) nearly 1.5 times the
obtained rough focal length of the lens.
10. Adjust height of the object needle to make its tip lie on horizontal line through the optical
centre of the lens.
11. Note the position of the index mark on the base of the object needle upright.
To set the image needle
12. With left eye closed, see with the right open eye from the other end of the optical bench. An
inverted and enlarged image of the object needle will be seen. Tip of the image must lie in
the middle of the lens.
13. Mount the thick optical needle (image needle) in the fourth upright near the other end of the
optical bench.
14. Adjust the height of the image needle so that its tip is seen in line with the tip of the image
when seen with right open eye.
15. Move the eye towards right. The tips will get separated. The image tip and the image needle
tip have parallax.
16. Remove the parallax tip to tip.
17. Note the position of the index mark on base of the image needle upright.
18. Record the position of the index marks on the base of upright of the lens, the object needle
and the image needle in the table against observation 2.
To determine index correction
19. Find the index correction for distance between optical centre of lens and tip of the object
needle and also for distance between optical centre of lens and tip of the image needle as
described.
To get more observations
20. Move object needle upright towards mirror in steps of 1 cm to get observation 2 and 1.
Repeat the experiment.

Observations
Rough focal length of the given convex lens = …….cm
Actual length of the knitting needle x=…….cm
Observed distance between the object needle and the lens
when knitting needle is placed between them y =…….cm
Observed distance between the image needle and the
lens when knitting needle is placed between them z =…….cm
Index correction for the object distance u, x -y =…….cm
Index correction for the image distance v, x-z =…….cm

Calculations
Calculations of focal length by graphical methods:
(i) u-v Graph. Select a suitable but the same scale to represent u along X’-axis and v along Y-axis.
According to sign conventions, in this case, u is negative and v is positive. Plot the various points
for different sets of values of u and v from observation table second quadrant. The graph comes
out to be a rectangular hyperbola as shown in graph between u and v.
Draw a line OA making an angle of 45° with either axis (i.e., bisecting ∠YOX’) and meeting the
curve at point A. Draw AB and AC perpendicular on X’- and Y-axes, respectively.

Result
The focal length of the given convex lens as determined from
Precautions

1. Tips of the object and image needles should lie at the same height as the centre of the lens.
2. Parallax should be removed from tip to tip by keeping eye at a distance at least 30 cm away
from the needle.
3. The object needle should be placed at such a distance that only real, inverted image of it is
formed.
4. Index correction for u and v should be applied.

Sources of error

1. The uprights may not be the vertical.

2. Parallax removal may not be perfect.
 Experiment – 6
Aim
To find the focal length of a convex mirror, using a convex lens.

Apparatus
An optical bench with four uprights (two fixed uprights in middle, two outer uprights with lateral
movement), convex lens (20 cm focal length), convex mirror, a lens holder, a mirror holder, two
optical needles, (one thin, one thick) a knitting needle, and a half metre scale.

Theory

Ray Diagram

Procedure
To determine rough focal length of convex lens

1. To set the lens

2. Clamp the holder with lens in a fixed upright and keep the upright at 50 cm mark.
3. Adjust the lens such that its surface is vertical and perpendicular to the length of the optical
bench.
4. Keep the upright fixed in this position throughout.
To set the object needle
5. Take the thin optical needle as object needle (O). Mount it in outer laterally move-able
upright near zero end.
6. Move the object needle upright and clamp it at a distance (in full cm) nearly 1.5 times the
obtained rough focal length of the lens.
7. Adjust height of the object needle to make its tip lie on horizontal line through the optical
centre of the lens.
8. Note the position of the index mark on the base of the object needle upright.
To set the convex mirror
9. Clamp the holder with convex mirror in second fixed upright near the lens upright, keeping
reflecting surface of the mirror towards lens.
10. Adjust the height of the mirror to make its pole lie on horizontal line through the optical centre
of the lens.
11. Make the mirror surface vertical and perpendicular to the length of the optical bench (the
principal axes of mirror and lens must coincide.)
12. Move towards zero end of the optical bench (where object needle is mounted).
13. Closing left eye, keep open right eye about 30 cm away from the tip of the object needle.
14. See the inverted image of the object needle (formed by reflection from the convex mirror).
15. Keep the eye in a position at which the tips of the inverted image and the object needle are
seen simultaneously.
16. Adjust the height of the needle so that the two tips are seen in one line with right open eye.
17. Move the eye towards right. The tips will get separated. The tips have parallax.
18. Move the convex mirror back and forth till tip to tip parallax is removed.
19. Note the position of the index mark on the base of the convex mirror upright.
To set the image needle
20. Remove the convex mirror, keeping upright in its position.
21. With left eye closed, see with the right open eye from the other end of the optical bench. An
inverted and enlarged image of the object needle will be seen. Tip of the image must lie in
the middle of the lens.
22. Mount the thick optical needle (image needle) in the fourth upright near the other end of the
optical bench.
23. Adjust the height of the image needle so that its tip is seen in line with the tip of the image
when seen with right open eye.
24. Move the eye towards right. The tips will get separated. The image tip and the image needle
tip have parallax.
25. Remove the parallax tip to tip.
 26. Note the position of the index mark on base of the image needle upright.
27. Record the position of the index marks in the table against observation 2.
To determine index correction
28. Find index correction for distance between pole of convex mirror and tip of the image needle
as described.

Observations

Result
The focal length of the given convex mirror = .............cm.

Precautions

1. Principal axis of the lens should be horizontal and parallel to the central line of the optical
bench.
2. All the uprights should be vertical.
3. The tip of the needle, centre of the mirror and centre of the lens should be at the same
height.
4. While removing the parallax, the eye should be kept at a minimum distance of 30 cm from
the needle.
5. Tip to tip parallax should be removed.
6. Index correction should be applied between the image needle I and back surface of the
convex mirror.
7. The convex mirror should be placed close to the convex lens.
8. For one set of observation, when the parallax has been removed for convex lens alone, the’
positions of the lens and needle O uprights should not be changed.

Sources of error

1. Focal length of lens may not be small.

 Experiment – 7

Aim
To determine angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between angle of
incidence and the angle of deviation.

Apparatus
Drawing board, a white sheet of paper, prism, drawing pins, pencil, half-metre scale, office pins, graph
paper and a protractor.

Theory
The refractive index in) of the material of the prism is given by

where, Dm angle of minimum deviation and A angle of the prism.

Diagram

Procedure

1. Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing board with the help of drawing pins or tape.
2. Draw a straight line XX’ parallel to the length of the paper nearly in the middle of the paper.
3. Mark points Q1, Q2, Q3,… on the straight line XX’ at suitable distances of about 5 cm.
4. Draw normals N1Q1, N2Q2, N3Q3,… on points Q1, Q2, Q3,… as shown in diagram.
5. Draw straight lines R1Q1, R2Q2, R3Q3,… making angles of 35°, 40°, … 60° (write value of the
angles on the paper) respectively with the normals.
6. Mark one comer of the prism as A and take it as the edge of the prism for all the
observations.
7. Put it prism with its refracting face AB in the line XX’ and point Q1 in the middle of AB.
 8. Mark the boundary of the prism.
9. Fix two or more office pin P1 and P2 vertically on the line R1Q1. The distance between the pins
should be 10 mm or more.
10. Look the images of point P1 and P2 through face AC.
11. Close your left eye and bring open right eye in line with the two images.
12. Fix two office pins P3 and P4 vertically, and 10 cm apart such that the open right eye sees
pins P4 and P3and images of P2 and P1 in one straight line.
13. Remove pins P3 and P4 and encircle their pricks on the paper.
14. Repeat steps 7 to 13 with points Q2, Q3,… for i = 40°,…, 60°.
To measure D in different cases
15. Draw straight lines through points P4 and P3 (pin pricks) to obtain emergent rays
S1T1,S2T2,S3T3,……
16. Produce T1S1, T2S2, T3S3, … inward in the boundary of the prism to meet produced incident
rays R1Q1, R2Q2, R3Q3,… at points F1, F2, F3,…
17. Measure angles K1F1S1,K2F2S2,K3F3S3, ......... These give angle of deviation D1,D2,D3,….
18. Write values of these angles on the paper.
To measure A
19. Measure angle BAC in the boundary of the prism. This gives angle A.
20. Record your observations.

Observations
Angle of prism ‘A’ =……

Calculations
Plot a graph between angle of incidence ∠i and angle of deviation ∠D by taking ∠i along X-axis and ∠D
along Y-axis. From this graph, find the value of single of minimum deviation Dm corresponding to the lowest
point of the graph.
Result

1. i-D graph indicates that as the angle of incidence (i) increases, the angle of deviation (D) first
decreases, attains a minimum value (Dm ) and then starts increasing for further increase in
angle of incidence.
2. Angle of minimum deviation, Dm = ……..
3. Refractive index of the material of the prism, n = ……….

Precautions

1. The angle of incidence should lie between 35°-60°.

2. The pins should be fixed vertical.
3. The distance between the two pins should not be less than 10 mm
4. Arrow heads should be marked to represent the incident and emergent rays.
5. The same angle of prism should be used for all the observations.

Sources of error

1. Pin pricks may be thick.

2. Measurement of angles may be wrong.
 Experiment – 8
Aim
To draw the I-V characteristic curve of a p-n junction in forward bias and reverse bias.
Apparatus
A p-n junction (semi-conductor) diode, a 3 volt battery, a 50 volt battery, a high resistance rheostat, one 0-3
volt voltmeter, one 0-50 volt voltmeter, one 0-100 mA ammeter, one 0-100 μA ammeter, one way key,
connecting wires and pieces of sand paper.

Theory
Forward bias characteristics. When the p -section of the diode is connected to positive terminal of a battery
and n-section is connected to negative terminal of the battery then junction is said to be forward biased.
With increase in bias voltage, the forward current increases slowly in the beginning and then rapidly. At
about 0.7 V for Si diode (0.2 V for Ge), the current increases suddenly. The value of forward bias voltage,
at which the forward current increases rapidly, is called cut in voltage or threshold voltage.
Reverse bias characteristics. When the p -section of the diode is connected to negative terminal of high
voltage battery and n-section of the diode is connected to positive terminal of the same battery, then
junction is said to be reverse biased.
When reverse bias voltage increases, initially there is a very small reverse current flow, which remains
almost constant with bias. But when reverse bias voltage increases to sufficiently high value, the reverse
current suddenly increases to a large value. This voltage at which breakdown of junction diode occurs
(suddenly large current flow) is called zener breakdown voltage or inverse voltage. The breakdown voltage
may^tarts from one volt to several hundred volts, depending upon dopant density and the depletion layer.

Diagram
Procedure
For forward-bias

1. Make circuit diagram as shown in diagram.

2. Make all connections neat, clean and tight.
3. Note least count and zero error of voltmeter (V) and milli-ammeter (mA).
4. Bring moving contact of potential divider (rheostat) near negative end and insert the key K.
Voltmeter V and milli-ammeter mA will give zero reading.
5. Move the contact a little towards positive end to apply a forward-bias voltage (VF) of
0. 1 V. Current remains zero.
6. Increase the forward-bias voltage upto 0.3 V for Ge diode. Current remains zero, (It is due to
junction potential barrier of 0.3 V).
7. Increase VF to 0.4 V. Milli-ammeter records a small current.
8. Increase VF in steps of 0.2 V and note the corresponding current. Current increases first
slowly and then rapidly, till VF becomes 0.7 V.
9. Make VF = 0.72 V. The current increases suddenly. This represents “forward break-down”
stage.
10. If the VF increases beyond “forward breakdown” stage, the forward current does not change
much. Now take out the key at once.
11. Record your observations as given ahead.
For reverse-bias
12. Make circuit diagram as shown in diagram.
13. Make all connections neat, clean and tight.
14. Note least count and zero error of voltmeter (V) and micro-ammeter (μA).
15. Bring moving contact of potential divider (rheostat) near positive end and insert the key K
Voltmeter V and micro-ammeter μA will give zero reading.
16. Move the contact towards negative end to apply a reverse-bias voltage (VR) of 0.5 V, a feebly
reverse current starts flowing.
17. Increase VR in steps of 0.2 V. Current increases first slowly and then rapidly till VR becomes
20 V. Note the current.
18. Make VR = 25 V. The current increases suddenly. This represents “reverse break-down”
stage. Note the current and take out the key at once.

Observations For forward-bias

Range of voltmeter = …..V
Least count of voltmeter = …..V
Zero error of voltmeter = …..V
Range of milli-ammeter = …..mA
Least count of milli-ammeter = …..mA
Zero error of milli-ammeter = …..mA
Table for forward-bias voltage and forward current

For reverse-bias
Range of voltmeter = …..V
Least count of voltmeter = …..V
Zero error of voltmeter = …..V
Range of micro-ammeter = …..μA
Least count of micro-ammeter = …..μA
Zero error of micro-ammeter = …..
2. Table for reverse-bias voltage and reverse current

Result
Junction resistance for forward-bias = 40 ohms
Junction resistance for reverse-bias = 2 x 106 ohms.
Precautions

1. All connections should be neat, clean and tight.

2. Key should be used in circuit and opened when the circuit is not being used.
3. Forward-bias voltage beyond breakdown should not be applied.
4. Reverse-bias voltage beyond breakdown should not be applied.

Sources of error
The junction diode supplied may be faulty.
 Activity – 4

Aim
To identify a diode, an LED, a transistor, an IC, a resistor and a capacitor from a mixed collection
of such items.

Apparatus and material

Apparatus: Multimeter.
Material: Above mixed collection of items.

Theory
For identification, appearance and working of each item will have to be considered.

1. A diode is a two terminal device. It conducts when forward biased and does not conduct
when reverse biased. It does not emit light while conducting. Hence, it does not glow.
2. A LED (light emitting diode) is also a two terminal device. It also conducts when forward
biased and does not conduct when reverse biased. It emits light while conducting. Hence, it
glow.
3. A transistor is a three terminal device. The terminals represent emitter (E), base (B) and
collector (C).
4. An IC (integrated circuit) is a multi-terminal device in form of a chip. [See figure (UM 3482 IC
Tone Generator)]
5. A resistor is a two terminal device. It conducts when either forward biased or reverse biased.
(Infact there is no forward or reverse bias for a resistor). It conducts even when operated
with A.C. voltage.
6. A capacitor is also a two terminal device. It does not conduct when either forward biased or
reverse biased. When a capacitor is connected to a D.C. source, then multimeter shows full
scale current initially but it decay to zero quickly. It is because that initially a capacitor draw a
charge.
 The components to be identified are shown in figure.

Procedure

1. If the item has four or more terminals and has form of a chip, it is an IC (integrated circuit).
2. If the item has three terminals, it is a transistor.
3. If the item has two terminals, it may be diode, a LED, a resistor or a capacitor.
To differentiate proceed as ahead.
4. Put the selector on resistance R of multimeter for checking the continuity. The probe metal
ends are inserted in terminal marked on the multimeter as common and P (or + ve).
 Activity – 5
Aim : To observe polarisation of light using two polaroids.

Apparatus
Thin glass sheet, a source giving monochromatic light beam with parallel rays, a polaroid.

Theory
When an unpolarised light is made incident on the interface of two transparent media at polarising
angle, the refracted and reflected rays depart from each other at an angle of 90°. The reflected ray
is completely plane polarised. It can be tested by a polaroid.

Diagram

Procedure
Keep the than glass sheet in a horizontal plane surface with a hole under the sheet. Take a beam
of monochromatic light having parallel rays and make it incident on the upper face of the glass
sheet.
Adjust the angle of incidence to 57.5°.
Observe the reflected rays and the refracted rays. They must make an angle of 90° with each
other.
Testing of Polarisation

1. Take a polaroid (P) and keep it in between incident light and your eyes. Rotate it about an
axis along incident ray. No change of intensity of light will be detected. It is so because the
incident light is unpolarised.
2. Take the second polaroid (A) and place it at a proper distance between polaroid (P) and eye
and parallel to it. Light is visible through them.
3. Now rotate the polaroid (A) ranging from 0° to 360°. Keeping the polaroid (P) fix and note the
intensity of transmitted light.
 4. When polaroid (A) and polaroid (P) at 90° than transmitted light through polaroid (A) will be
zero

Result
When the two polaroids are parallel to each other light transmitted through it. But when they are
perpendicular, there is no transmitted light. The light obtained through polaroid (P) is plane
polarised. The light has transverse nature.
 Activity – 6
Aim : To observe diffraction of light due to a thin slit.

Apparatus
Two razor blades, adhesive tapes, a screen a source of monochromatic light (laser pencil) black paper and
a glass plate.

Theory
Diffraction is a phenomenon of bending of light around the comers or edges of a fine opening or aperture.
Diffraction takes place when order of wavelength is comparable or small to the size of slit or aperture. The
diffraction effect is more pronounced if the size of the aperture or the obstacle is of the order of wavelength
of the waves. The diffraction pattern arises due to interference of light waves from different symmetrical
point of the same wavefront. The diffraction pattern due to a single slit consists of a central bright band
having alternate dark and weak bright bands of decreasing intensity on both sides.

Procedure

1. Fix the black paper on the glass plate by using adhesive.

2. Place two razor blades so that their sharp edges are parallel and extremely close to each
other to form a narrow slit in between.

3. Cut the small slit in between the sharp edges of blades and place at a suitable distance from
a wall or screen of a dark room.
4. Throw a beam of light on the slit by the laser pencil.
Conclusion
When light waves are incident on a slit or aperture then it bends away (spread) at the comers of
slit showing the phenomena of diffraction of light.

Precaution

1. Air gaps should not be left between glass plates and black paper.
2. The razor blades should be placed extremely closed as possible.
3. Diffraction pattern should be seen on a wall of a dark room.
4. A point source of monochromatic light like laser torch should be used
5. A diffraction pattern of alternate bright and dark bands is seen on the wall.