CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Nitheshwaran , a student of class XII-A1 of VOC govt.

Hr. sec. School has successfully carried out the investigatory project
entitled “To find the refractive indices of various liquid mediums” under
the guidance of Ms. bathmavathi for the year 2024-2025.

Signature of physics teacher Signature of examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people

have best owned upon me their blessings and the heart pledged
support, this time I am utilizing to thank all the people who have
been concerned with project.

Primarily I would thank god for being able to complete this

project with success. Then I would like to thank my Teacher
Ms. Bathmavathi whose valuable guidance has helped me
complete this project. Her suggestions and instructions has
served as the major contributor towards the completion of the
project.
Then I would like to thank my parents and friends who have
helped me with their valuable suggestions and guidance has
been helpful in various phases of the completion of the project.
 INDEX
INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVE / AIM
APPARATUS / MATERIAL REQUIRED
DIAGRAM
THEORY
PROCEDURE
OBSERVATIONS
CALCULATIONS
RESULTS
PRECAUTIONS
SOURCES OF ERRORS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION

The refractive index (n) of an optical medium is defined as the ratio of speed
of light in vaccum and the speed of light in that medium. It is a dimensionless
number that describes how light propagates through that medium.

For visible light most transparent media has refractive indices between 1 and
2. Gases at atmospheric pressure have refractive index close to 1 because of
low density.
Almost all solids and liquids have refractive indices above 1.3 with aerogel as
clear exception. Aerogel is a very low density solid that can be produced with
refractive index from 1.002 to 1.265 .
The refractive index depends upon the density of the medium higher is the
density, more is the refractive index value of that particular medium

Refraction of a light ray

 AIM
To find the refractive indexes of
(a)Glycerine
(b) Oil
(c) Acetone

APPARATUS
 Convex Lens
 Plane Mirror
 Oil
 Acetone
 Glycerine
 Clamp Stand
 An Optical Needle
 Plumb Line
 Knitting Needle
 Half Meter Scale
 Glass Slab
 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.

3. 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 means 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.
8. Repeat the steps 5, 6, 7 for other transparent liquid (oil).

(c) For radius of curvature of convex lens surface:

9. Determine the pitch and the least count of the spherometer.

10. Remove the convex lens and dry it completely. Put the
spherometer on this lens surface.

11. 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.

12. Remove the spherometer from the surface of the lens and place
on the plane mirror surface and record the reading.

13. Repeat the steps 10 and 11 three times.

14. 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
 OBSERVATIONS
To find h
S.No Initial reading No. of Final Additional h=n x Mean
of the C.S. on complete reading of C.S div. pitch “h”
the convex rotations the C.S.R moved + m x (cm)
lens on the (m) L.C
(a) (n) glass slab

1 10 01 80 30 0.13 0.13cm

2 20 01 90.5 29.5 0.129

To find focal length ‘f’ of lens and combination

Rough focal length of convex lens= 21cm

Distance of needle tip from

Arrangement S.No Tip of the upper Upper Mean Focal
𝑥 +𝑥
surface of the surface of x= 1 2 Length
2
convex lens(cm) the plane (cm)
X1 mirror(cm)
X2
Without 1. 31 33 32 F1 =32
liquid
With 2. 14.1 14.3 14.2 Fg = 14.2
glycerine
With 3. 15.2 15.6 15.4 Fa =15.4
acetone
With oil 4. 16 16.1 16.05 Fo=16.05
 CALCULATIONS

Mean distance between two legs

𝐴𝐵+𝐵𝐶+𝐶𝐴
𝑙= = 3.5cm
3

To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens:

𝑙2 ℎ
𝑅= + = 15.7 𝑐𝑚
6ℎ 2

Measurement of refractive indices of glycerine, oil and acetone

1) For glycerine
R 21
Μ1 = 1 + = 1+ = 1.47
Fg 43.85

2) For oil
R 15.7
μ2 = 1 + = 1+ = 1.67
Fo 23.24

3) For acetone
R 21
μ3 = 1 + = 1+ = 1.36
Fa 57.75
 Results

The refractive index of glycerine is µ1 = 1.47

The refractive index of oil is µ2 = 1.67

The refractive index of acetone is µ3 = 1.36

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.