Physics INVESTiGATORY
PROJECT
NAME: Kanishka Sharma
CLASS: XII
ROLL NO.: 1208
Year: 2019 – 2020
CERTIFICATE
This is hereby to certify that the project “To find the
refractive index of water using a plane mirror, an equiconvex lens,
and an adjustable object needle.”is an original and genuine
investigation work carried out to investigate about the
subject matter and the related data collection and
investigation has been completed solely, sincerely and
satisfactorily by, of class XII as per the requirement for
the CBSE Board Examination for the year 2018 – 19.
(External Examiner) (Principal)
(Internal Examiner) (School Stamp)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my gratitude for our
honorable principal Mrs. Mamta Singh for whole
hearted co-operation and guidance. I am also
thankful for her encouragement and for all the
facilities that she provided for this project work. I
sincerely appreciate this magnanimity by taking me
into her fold for which I shall remain indebted to
her.
I wish to express my deep gratitude and sincere
thanks to our physics teacher Mr. Pawan Kumar
for his invaluable guidance, constant
encouragement, constructive comments,
sympathetic attitude and immense motivation,
which has sustained my efforts at all stages of this
project work.His valuable advice and suggestions
for the corrections, modifications and improvement
did enhance the perfection in performing my job
well.
INDEX
Objective
Apparatus
Diagram
Theory
Procedure
Observations
Calculations
Results
Precautions
Sources Of Errors
OBJECTIVE:
To find the refractive index of water
using a plane mirror, an equiconvex
lens, and an adjustable object
needle.
APPARATUS:
A convex lens
A plane mirror
Water
Clamp stand
Plumb line
Knitting needle
Half meter scale
Glass slab
A spherometer.
DIAGRAM:
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
=(𝒏 − 𝟏) ⌊ − ⌋
𝑹𝟏 ∞
𝟏
=(n-1)⌊ − 𝟎⌋
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.
2.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 mean 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.
(c) For radius of curvature of convex lens
surface:
8.Determine the pitch and the least count
of the spherometer.
9.Remove the convex lens and dry it
completely. Put the spherometer on this
lens surface.
10.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.
11.Remove the spherometer from the
surface of the lens and place on the plane
mirror surface and record the reading.
12.Repeat the steps 10 and 11 three
times.
13.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
CALCULATIONS:
𝑙1 +𝑙2 𝑙3
(i) 𝑙= =………………..cm
3
𝑙2 ℎ
(ii) 𝑅= + =………………...cm
6ℎ 2
𝑓𝑓1
(iii) 𝑓2 = = ……………….cm
𝑓−𝑓1
𝑅
(iv) 𝑛 =1+ = ………….........cm
𝑓2
RESULTS:
1. The refractive index of water 𝐧𝐰 =
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.
Photo gallery
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
www.scribd.com
www.ncert.nic.in
Class XII lab manual
