INDEX
Certificate
Declaration
Acknowledgement
Introduction
Objective
Materials Required
Theory
Procedure
Observation
Calculation
Results
Precautions
Sources of Error
INTRODUCTION
In optics, the refractive index (a.k.a. refraction
index) of an optical medium is a
dimensionless number that indicates the light-
bending ability of that medium.
The refractive index
determines how much the
path of light is bent, or
refracted when entering a
material. This is described by Snell's law of
refraction, n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2, where θ1 and
θ2 are the angles of incidence and refraction,
respectively, of a ray crossing the interface
between two media with refractive indices n1
and n2.
OBJECTIVE
“To find the refractive index of
water, oil using a plane mirror
and an equiconvex 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
THEORY
If f1 and f2 be the focal length of glass
convex lens and liquid lens and F be
the focal length of their combination
then,
Liquid lens formed is a planoconcave
lens with R1= R (radius of curvature of
convex lens surface), R2 =∞
Where n=Refractive index of the liquid
R=The radius of the curvature
of the convex lens.
The radius of the lower surface of the
convex lens is given by:
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.
Fig: Focal length of glass convex les
and liquid lens combination
PROCEDURE
For focal length of convex
lens
1. Take any one convex lens and
find its rough focal length.
2. Take a plane mirror and place it
on the horizontal base of the iron
stand.
3. Place the convex lens on the
plane mirror.
4. Screw tight the optical needle in
the clamp of the stand and hold it
horizontally above the lens at
distance equal to its rough focal
length.
5. Bring the tip of the needle at the
vertical principal axis of the lens,
so that tip of the needle appears
touching the tip of its image.
6. Move the needle up and down
and remove parallax between tips
of the needle and its image.
7. Measure distance between tip
and upper surface of the lens by
using a plumb line and half metre
scale.
8. Also measure distance between
tip and the surface of its plane
mirror.
For focal length of the
combination
1. Take a few drops of
transparent liquid on the
plane mirror and put the
convex lens over it with its
same face above as before
(A piano concave liquid lens
is formed between plane
mirror and convex lens).
2. Repeat steps 6, 7 and 8.
Record your observations as
given below.
For radius of curvature of
convex lens surface:
1. Determine the pitch and the
least count of the
spherometer.
2. Remove the convex lens and
dry incompletely. Put the
spherometer on this lens
surface.
3. 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.
4. Remove the spherometer
from the surface of the lens
and place on the plane
mirror surface and record
the reading.
5. Repeat the steps 10 and 11
three times.
6. Obtain the impressions of
the three legs of the
spherometer on a paper and
mark them and their average
distance.
OBSERVATION
Pitch of the spherometer = 1 cm
Least count of the spherometer =
0.01 cm
Distance between the legs:
AB = 3 cm
BC = 3 cm
CA = 3 cm
CALCULATION
1.Mean distance between two legs
2.Mean of h = (0.555+0.6)/2 =0.5775 cm
3.To find the radius of the curvature of the
convex lens:
R = l2 /6h + h/2 = 2.8861 cm
Measurement of refractive index of water
and oil
1.with water between the convex lens and
the plane mirror:
2.With oil between the convex lens and
plane mirror
RESULTS
The refractive index of
water is µ1 = 1.0831
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.
SOURCE 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.
