Dispersive power

of Prism

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 Dispersive Power of Prism

Experiment No.

Object : To determine the dispersive power of the material of a prism by spectrometer.

Apparatus : Spectrometer, prism, spirit level, reading lens and mercury lamp.

Formula : The dispersive power of the material of a prism is given by

v   R

 Y  1) 
Where V  Refractive index of the material of a prism for extreme violet colour
 R  Refractive index of the material of a prism for extreme red colour
 Y = Refractive index of the material of a prism for yellow (mean) colour position.

Refractive index is given by

sin( A   m ) / 2
 =
sin( A / 2)
Where A = Angle of prism
m = Angle of minimum deviation

Procedure : To obtain pure spectrum by spectrometer the following adjustments must be made :

 The axis of the telescope and that of collimator msut intersect the central axis of rotation of
telescope.

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 The prism table is leveled with the help of spirit level.

 The slit of the collimator is made narrow, vertical and symmetrical on both sides.

 Note the lest count of vernier scales.

 Adjustment of the telescope.

i) Turn the telescope towards a white wall and the distance between its objective and the
eyepiece is so adjusted that the field of view becomes completely luminous. Now the
eyepiece is displaced inside the tube till the cross-wire becomes distinctly visible.

ii) Now the telescope with objective is directed towards a distant tree or pole and they are
viewed through the telescope. The distance between the objective and the eye piece is
adjusted with the help of rack and pinion arrangement such that a distinct and clear image
of the object is seen. Thus the telescope is ready to focus all the parallel rays at the cross
wire.

 Adjustment of Collimator : Place the mercury lamp in front of the slit of collimator and align
the telescope with the collimator such that the image of the slit is seen through telescope. Thej
distance between the slit and the lens of the collimator is adjusted with the help of its rack and
pinion arrangement until a distinct image is seen through the telescope. In this position the light
rays coming out of the collimator will be parallel to each other.

 Adjustment of Prism table : The height of the prism table is adjusted in such a way that the
light rays coming out of the collimator fall maximum on the refracting surface of the prism when
it is placed on the prism table.

Schuster’s method : There is another method of adjusting the telescope and the collimator for
parallel rays. This method is called Schuster’s method. The method is as follows :

i) First of all prism table is adjusted at the same height of the collimator and telescope.

ii) Now the prism is placed on the prism table in such a position that its one of the refracting
surface faces the collimator. The light emerging from the other refracting surface of the
prism is viewed through the telescope.

iii) The prism table and the telescope both are then rotated slowly and simultaneously so that
the spectral lines always remain the cross-wire. A state is reached when on rotating the
prism table further, the direction of rotation of the spectral lines reserved. This position is
the position of minimum deviation.

iv) Now, keeping the telescope fixed, the prism table is rotated through a small angle. The
spectral lines are seen to be blurred. The telescope is adjusted with the help of rack and
pinion arrangement so that spectral lines become distinct and clear.

v) table is rotated through a small angle in the collimator is adjusted with the help of a rack
and pinion arrangement so that spectral lines become distinct and clear.

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 vi) The method described in steps (iv) and (v) are repeated attain and again till the spectral
lines become distinct and clear through out the entire rotation of the telescope.

In this position the spectrometer will be set for parallel rays coming out of the collimator,
focusing parallel rays by telescope at its cross=-wire and the prism in the position of angle of
minimum deviation.

 Measurement of the angle of minimum deviation :

i) Follow the procedure as given in steps (i), (ii), and (iii) of the Schuster’s method.

ii) Now fix the vertical cross-wire on one of the extreme spectral line of the spectrum with
the help of tangent screw of the telescope. Note the reading of both the verniers on the
main scale.

iii) Similarly fix the vertical cross wire on the mean line (yellow line) and extreme spectral
line on the other end of the spectrum and in each position note the reading of both the
verniers on the main scale.

iv) The position of the prism table is kept fixed and the prism is removed. The telescope is
rotated till the direct image of the slit is viewed at its vertical cross-wire. The position of
the telescope is noted by the reading of both the verniers.

v) The difference of readings in steps (ii), (iii) with (iv) is calculated for both the circular
verniers. The mean of these two differences will be angle of minimum deviation.

 Measurement of the angle of Prism A :

i) Place the prism on the prism table with its angle of prism A towards the collimator and
with its refracting edge A at its centre. In this position some of the light falling on each
refracting surface AB and AC will be reflected and can be received by the telescope.

ii) The telescope is moved to one side to receive the light reflected from the refracting
surface AB and the image of the slit is focused at the vertical cross-wire. The reading of
two verniers are noted on the main scale.

iii) Now the telescope is moved to another side to receive the light reflected from the
refracting surface AD and the image of slit is focused again at the vertical cross-wire. The
reading of two verniers are noted again on the main scale.

iv) The difference of readings in steps (ii) and (iii) is calculated for both the verniers. The
mean of these two differences will be twice the angle of prism. Therefore, half of this
angle gives the angle of prism.

 The refractive index and then dispersive power of the prism are calculated from these
observations.

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Figure:

Observations :

One division of main scale x = ………………..

Number of vernier divisions n = ………………..
x
Least count of the vernier = ………………..
n

For minimum deviation  m :

Reading in the Reading in the
S.No. Colour Circular Scale minimum deviation position of direct m = Mean
position image a-b m
m.s. c.s. Total a m.s. c.s. Total b
1. Red V1
V2
2. Yellow V1
V2
3. Violet V1
V2
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 For Angle of Prism A :
Reading for Reading for reflection
Diffe- Mean Mean
S.No. Vernier Reflection from face from fact AC
rence Value Value
AB
a-b 2A A
m.s. c.s. Total a m.s. c.s. Total a
1. V1
V2
2. V1
V2

Calculation :

Angle of prism A =
Angle of minimum deviation for extreme violet colour  V =
sin( A  m ) / 2
 for violet =
sin A / 2
V =
Angle of minimum deviation for extreme red colour  R =
sin( A  m ) / 2
 for Red =
sin A / 2
R =
Angle of minimum deviation for extreme red colour  Y =
sin( A  m ) / 2
 for Yellow =
sin A / 2
Y =
Dispersive power of material of a prism
  R
 V
Y  a
 

Result :
The dispersive power of material of a prism =
 =
Standard value for the flint glass  =
Crown Glass  =
% error =

Sources of Error :

 The slit may not be vertical and narrow.

 The edge of slit and prism may not be perfectly vertical.
 The axis of rotation of the telescope may not pass through the centre of circular scale.
 While taking observations, telescope and prism table are not fixed.
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