INTRODUCTION
Refractive index (RI) is a measure of how much light bends when it enters a medium.
It is a fundamental property of materials and plays a crucial role in optics, influencing
the behaviour of lenses, prisms, and other optical instruments.
The bending of light occurs due to the change in its speed when transitioning from
one medium to another. This phenomenon is governed by Snell’s Law, which relates
the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices of the media involved.
The objective of this project is to determine the refractive indices of water and
transparent oil using an equiconvex lens, a plane mirror, and an adjustable needle.
This method provides a practical application of the principles of refraction and optics,
helping to understand how light interacts with different materials.
Understanding the refractive index is important in various fields, including designing
optical devices, studying the properties of materials, and even in applications like
fibres optics and vision correction.
REFRACTION OF A LIGHT RAY
AIM:
To determine the refractive indexes of
(a) water
(b) oil
using a plane mirror, 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
DIAGRAMS
THEORY:
1. Let f1 and f2 be the focal lengths of a glass convex lens and a liquid lens,
respectively. If f represents the focal length of their combination, determine the
relationship among them.
2. A liquid lens forms a plano-concave lens with R1=R and R2=∞ Using the lens
maker's formula, calculate its focal length.
Where n= Refractive index of the liquid
R= the radius of the curvature of the convex lens
3. The radius of curvature of the lower surface of a convex lens is determined using the
formula:
Where l represents the average distance between the spherometer's legs, and h is the
difference in spherometer readings when placed on the convex lens and a 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 (fi).
(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.
OBSERVATION:
Pitch of the spherometer= 0.1 cm
Least count of the spherometer =0.001cm
Distance between the legs:
(1) AB = 4cm
(2) BC = 4cm
(3) CA = 4cm
TABLE FOR CALCULATION OF h
S Initial reading No. of Final Additional C.S h=n x Mean
no. of the C.S. on complete reading of div. moved pitch + “h”
the convex rotations the c.s on mx (cm)
lens (a) (n) the glass L.C
slab
1 17 1 83 34 0.134 0.127
2 13 1 91 22 0.122
3 20 1 95 25 0.125
To measure focal length “f”
Area S no Distance from Tip of Distance Mean (X)= Focal length
between lens the upper surface of from tip x1+x2/2 in (cm)
and plane the convex lens(cm) Upper
mirror (X1) surface of
the plane
mirror(cm)
(X2)
Without 1 21.2 21.6 21.4 20.475
water
2 19.4 19.7 19.55
With water 1 28.9 29.4 29.15 28.1
2 26.8 27.3 27.05
With oil 1 33.2 32.8 33 33.5
2 33.9 33.5 33.7
3 34 33.6 33.8
CALCULATIONS:
Mean distance between two legs: 4+4+4/3= 4cm
To find Radius of curvature of the convex lens:
Mean value of f1 (without water) = 20.475cm
Mean value of F (with water) = 28.1cm
1/f = 1/f1- 1/F
f= 75.45 cm
R= l2/6h + h/2
R= 21.06cm
Measurement of refractive indices of water and oil:
For water:
Mean value of f1 (without water) = 20.475cm
Mean value of F (with water) = 28.1cm
1/f = 1/f1- 1/F
f= 75.45 cm
n = 1+ R/f = 1.721
For oil:
1/f = 1/F-1/f1
1/f = 0.0198
f = 50.5cm
n= 1 + R/f = 1.41
RESULTS:
The refractive index of water: 1.72
The refractive index of oil: 1.41
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.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
HELP FROM TEACHERS
NCERT TEXTBOOK
NCERT Physics Lab Manual
www.google.com
www.scribd.com
www.wikipedia.com
