Bibliography

• https://brainly.in/question
• https://www.scrid.com
• Comprehensive Practical Physics for XII

12
 Sources of error
• Liquid may not be quite transparent.
• The parallax may not be fully removed.
• The spherometer legs should be placed symmetrical
on the surface of convex lens.
• The tip of central screw should not just touch the
surface of lens or mirror.

11
 Precautions
• The liquid taken should be transparent.
• Only few drops of liquid should be taken so that its
layer is not thick.
• The parallax should be removed tip to tip.
• The legs of spherometer should be vertical.
• The plane mirror should be clean.

10
 Result
The refractive index of : (a) water =1.32
: (b) kerosene oil =1.44

9
 Calculations
h = R₂ - R₁
= 11.11 -10.15 = 0.096 cm
L =3.4 cm
R = l ²/6h+h/2
= 11.56/0.576 +0.048
=20.06+0.048 = 20.108 cm
Water : 1/f₂ = 1/ƒ-1/f₁
f₂ =ƒf₁/f₁-ƒ
= 19.6 x 28.4/19.6 – 28.4 =-63.2 cm
n = 1+R/f2
=1+20.108/63.2 = 1.32
Kerosene oil : 1/f₂=1/ƒ`-1/f₁
f₂=ƒ`f₁/f₁-ƒ`
=19.6 x 33.2/19.6-33.2
=-45.7 cm
n =1+R/f₂
=1+20.108/45.7 = 1.44

8
 Observation
Radius of curvature of the convex lens
Positional PSR HSR Total PSR
central screen +(HSR x LC)
From the plane 10 15 10.15
mirror, R₁
From the 11 11 11.11
convex lens R₂

Focal length of the combination

Distance of
the needle tip Focal
Assignment length (in
CM)
From From Mean
lens plane
surface mirror
(X₁) (X₂)
Without 19.1 20.1 19.6 f₁ =19.6
liquid
With water 27.9 28.9 28.4 ƒ = 28.4
With 32.7 33.7 33.2 ƒ`= 33.2
kerosene oil
*Here ƒ` is the focal length of the combination when
kerosene oil is in between the plane mirror and the convex
lens.
7
Diagram
 Procedure
I. Take a plane mirror and place it on the horizontal base of
the iron stand.
II. Place the convex lens on the plane mirror
III. 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
the image.
IV. Move the needle up and down and remove the parallax
between tips of the needle and its image.
V. Measure distance between tip and upper surface of the lens
by using a plumb line and half meter scale
VI. Also measure distance between tip and the surface of plane
mirror
VII. Take a few drops of water in the plane mirror and place the
lens on it. Adjust until a clear image is got. Repeat the steps
mentioned in (v) and (vi).
VIII. Take a few drops of kerosene oil in the plane mirror and
repeat the steps mentioned in (v), (vi), (vii),
IX. Note down the observations.

5
 Theory

If f₁ and f₂ be the focal length of glass convex lens and

liquid lens and ƒ be the focal length of their combination,
then
1/ƒ =1/f₁+ 1/f2
1/f₂=1/ƒ – 1/f₁
Liquid lens formed is a planoconcave lens with R₁=R
(radius of curvature convex lens surface) R₂= ∞

From lens maker's formula,

n= 1+R/f₂

4
Apparatus
• Convex lens
• Plane mirror
• Water
• Kerosene oil
• Optical needle
• Iron stand with base and
clamp arrangement
• Plumb line
• Plane glass slab
• Spherometer
• Half meter scale

3
 AIM

To find the refractive indices of (a) water (b) oil (transparent)

using a plane mirror, an equiconvex lens (made from a glass of
known refractive index) and an adjustable object needle.

2
 IntroductioN
The ratio of velocity of light in first medium to its velocity in the
second medium is called the refractive index of second medium
with respect to first medium. It is represented by n.
Liquid lens experiment can be used to find the refractive indices of
various liquids.
The theory behind the liquid lens is based on the properties of one
or more liquid to create magnification within a small amount of
space. The focus of a liquid lens is controlled by the surface of the
liquid. Water normally form a bubble shape when adhered to
materials like glass. That desirable property of water makes it very
suitable for the production of liquid lens. Essentially the liquid must
be transparent to study its properties. To generate a liquid lens, a
liquid is sandwiched between two pieces of clear glass. Oil can also
be used as a fluid in the liquid lens system. The surface profiles of
the liquid determine the focal length of the liquid lens system and
how the liquid lens focuses the light rays.
If we keep the mirror behind the lens and put the object at the
focus of the lens above it, the image will be formed at the same
focus where the object is. If it is an extended object, its image will
be inverted and the size of the image is same as that of object. This
property has enabled the efficient use of liquid lens to find the
refractive indices of different liquids. The focal length of liquid lens
can be calculated by knowing the focal length of the combination
and that of the convex lens, from which the refractive index of the
fluid can be estimated.
1
 Contents
Sl. No Topic Page No.
1 Introduction 1
2 Aim 2
3 Apparatus 3
4 Theory 4
5 Procedure 5
6 Diagram 6
7 Observation 7
8 Calculation 8
9 Result 9
10 Precaution 10
11 Sources of error 11
12 Bibliography 12
 Acknowledgement

I express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to my

teachers Mr.Jinu and Mr. Ajmal for their valuable
guidance. I express my sincere gratitude to our
Honorable Principal Mrs. Nisha S for providing us
with all the facilities to perform this project work.
Also I would like to thank Mr. Ajayan our lab
assistant for his help. Nevertheless, I express my
gratitude to my colleagues for their kind
co-operation and encouragement in the
completion of this project. Above all I thank God
Almighty for his eternal presence and blessings.
 Certificate

This is to certify that this is a bonafide record of project

work done by AnGel chinnu loyal of class XII-B
of MGM Residential Public School Kottarakkara.

Internal Examiner Principal

 Mar gregorious memorial
Residential public school
Kottarakkara

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
2022-2023
REFRACTIVE INDICES OF WATER AND OIL
USING AN EQUICONVEX LENS
Submitted for the AISSCE Practical Examination 2022-2023
Certified and Bonafide Project Work done by :
Name : ANGEL CHINNU LOYAL
Class : XII-B
Register No :
Internal Examiner :
External Examiner :