PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
Topic: Determining the Refractive Index of Liquids Using a Hollow Prism
PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya Ishapore No. 1, Kolkata
Name: Saswat Soubhagya Rout
Class & Section: XII – C
Board Roll Number: 12706796
Class Roll Number: 04
Subject: Physics
Subject Teacher: Ms. S. Guha
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Saswat Soubhagya Rout, a student of
Class XII-C, has successfully completed the project titled
“Determining the Refractive Index of Liquids Using a Hollow
Prism” under the guidance of Ms. S. Guha during the
academic year 2024-25.
This project is a genuine work carried out in accordance with
the requirements of the Class XII curriculum. The
observations and results recorded in this project are accurate
and have been thoroughly verified.
Signature of Subject Teacher: __________________
Signature of External Examiner: __________________
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my Physics teacher,
Ms. S. Guha, for her constant guidance, encouragement, and
support throughout the course of this project on “Determining the
Refractive Index of Liquids Using a Hollow Prism.” Her expertise
and advice were crucial in shaping my understanding and the success
of this work.
I am also thankful to our Principal, Mr. B. B. Mahato, for
providing the necessary resources and a conducive academic
environment that made this project possible.
Saswat Soubhagya Rout
XII - C
INDEX
1. Aim
2. Apparatus Required
3. Theory
4. Procedure
5. Observations & Calculations
6. Conclusion
7. Precautions
8. Bibliography
AIM
To find the refractive index of different liquids using a hollow prism.
APPARATUS REQUIRED
• Hollow glass prism
• Various liquids (e.g., water, carbon disulfide, benzaldehyde)
• Bell pins
• Drawing board
THEORY
PRISM:
A prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces
that refract light. Prisms can be made from various transparent
materials such as glass, plastic, or fluorite. They are used to break
light into its constituent spectral colours, reflect light, or split light
into components with different polarizations.
REFRACTION:
The refractive index of a liquid is calculated using the formula:
Where:
: Refractive index of the liquid
: Angle of minimum deviation
: Angle of refraction
: Angle of incidence
: Angle of prism
PROCEDURE
1. Fix a white sheet of paper on a drawing board using pins.
2. Place the hollow prism on the paper and mark its outline as .
3. Draw a normal line on side .
4. Mark the angle of incidence and fix two pins along this line.
5. Fill the prism with the liquid sample and place it on the marked
outline.
6. Fix two more pins on the other side such that all four pins
appear in a straight line.
7. Remove the prism and draw the emergent ray.
8. Measure the angles and repeat the procedure for different
liquids.
OBSERVATION & CALCULATION
WATER:
SL NO < OF PRISM < OF < OF
INCIDENCE DEVIATION
1 60 30 25
2 60 35 22
3 60 40 20
4 60 45 22
5 60 50 25
U = (sin(60+22)/2)/sin(30) = 1.306
DILUTE SULPHURIC ACID:
SL NO < OF PRISM < OF < OF
INCIDENCE DEVIATION
1 60 20 33
2 60 30 30
3 60 35 25
4 60 40 29
5 60 45 30
U = (sin(60+25)/2)/sin(30) = 1.351
BENZALDEHYDE:
SL NO < OF PRISM < OF < OF
INCIDENCE DEVIATION
1 60 30 45
2 60 35 42
3 60 37.5 40
4 60 39 42
5 60 40 45
U = (sin(60+40)/2)/sin(30) = 1.504
CONCLUSION
Refractive indices at room temperature:
WATER:
• Actual : 1.33
• Experimental: 1.306
DILUTE SULPHURIC ACID:
• Actual: 1.355
• Experimental: 1.351
BENZALDEHYDE:
• Actual: 1.546
• Experimental: 1.504
PRECAUTIONS
1. The angle of incidence should lie between 35° and
60°.
2. Pins should be vertically fixed and aligned.
3. The distance between two points should not be less
than 10 mm.
4. Use the same prism angle for all observations.
5. Mark arrowheads to indicate the emergent and
incident rays.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Gupta, R. K. (2020). Physics Made Easy for Class 12. ABC
Publishers.
2. Sharma, A. (2022). Simple Experiments in Optics. XYZ
Education.
3. Brown, T. (2018). Understanding Light and Prisms. Light
Books.
4. Newton, I. (2015). Basics of Refraction. Science Works.
5. Patel, S. (2019). Practical Physics for Beginners. EduWorld
Press.
