U.R.

SRIVARSHINI
BICONVEX LENS
Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................................................................................................................................
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................
AIM..............................................................................................................................................................
APPARATUS.................................................................................................................................................
DIAGRAM....................................................................................................................................................
THEORY.......................................................................................................................................................
PROCEDURE................................................................................................................................................
OBSERVATIONS.........................................................................................................................................
CALCULATIONS..........................................................................................................................................
RESULTS....................................................................................................................................................
PRECAUTIONS...........................................................................................................................................
SOURCES OF ERROR..................................................................................................................................
BIBLIOGRAPHY..........................................................................................................................................
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 Mr. Arivu Selvan and Mr. Kumar Saurav whose valuable
guidance has helped me complete this project. Their 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.
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.
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. Iff and f1⁄2 be the focal length of the glass convex lens and liquid lens and f be the
focal length of their combination

then:-

2. Liquid lens formed a Plano-concave Lens with R1=R and R2= then by using lens
make's formula
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

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 (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.
OBSERVATIONS

To find h

To find focal length 'f' of lens and combination

Rough focal length of convex lens= 21cm

Mean distance between two legs

To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens:

Measurement of refractive indices of glycerine, oil and acetone

1) For glycerine

2) For oil

3) For acetone
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 μ2 = 1.36

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.physicslab.com

www.wikipedia.com