To find the Refractive Index Of
three different liquids using plane
mirror and convex lens.
NAME-
CLASS-
SECTION-
BOARD REGISTRATION NO.-
BOARD ROLL NO.-
1
Acknowledgement
Before getting to the thick of things, I
would like to add a few heartfelt words for
the people who gave the support right from
the stage when the idea of the project was
conceived.
I express my sincere thanks to our
respected principal ma’am for providing
all the facilities to make my project work
feasible.
My deep gratitude and sincere thanks to
my physics practical teacher and all of our
school’s physics faculty for their support
and encouragement toward the successful
completion of the project
2
Contents
Sl no. Content Page No.
1. Acknowledgment 2
2. Introduction 4
3. Aim, Apparatus, 5-8
Theory, Diagram
And Procedure
4. Observation , 9-11
Calculation,
Precautions and
Sources of Error
5. Bibliography 11
3
Introduction
In optics, the refractive
index (or refraction index) of an optical
medium is the ratio of the apparent speed
of light in the air or vacuum to the speed
in the medium. The refractive index
determines how much the path of light is
bent, or refracted, when entering a
material. This is described by Snell's
law of refraction, n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2,
where θ1 and θ2 are the angle of
incidence and angle of refraction,
respectively, of a ray crossing the interface
between two media with refractive
indices n1 and n2. The refractive indices
also determine the amount of light that
is reflected when reaching the interface,
as well as the critical angle for total
internal reflection, their intensity (Fresnel
equations) and Brewster's angle.
4
Aim: To find the refractive index of a
liquid using a convex lens and plane
mirror.
Apparatus:
• Convex Lens
• Plane Mirror
• Optical Needle
• Glycerine, Water, Turpentine Oil all
in separate clean beaker
• An iron stand with base and clamp
arrangement
• Plane glass slab
• Plumb Line
• Spherometer
• Half metre scale
Theory: Let us consider f1 and f2 to be
the focal length of the glass convex lens
and liquid lens respectively and let F be
the focal length of their combination,
then
(1/F)=(1/f1 )+(1/f2)
5
From the lens maker’s formula:
We have,
(1/f2)=(n−1) x [(1/R1)-(1/R2)]
Simplifying further, we get
(1/f2)=(n−1)R
Inserting values of f2, n can be calculated.
Diagram:
Procedure:
• For the focal length of the convex
lens,
1) Choose a convex lens and find its
rough focal length.
2) Place the plane mirror on the
horizontal base of the iron stand
6
3) Place the convex lens on the plane
mirror
4) Screw tight the optical needle in the
clamp of the stand and hold it
horizontally above the lens at a
distance equal to its rough focal
length.
5) Bring the tip of the needle to the
principal vertical axis of the lens so
the tip of the needle appears to be
touching the tip of its image.
6) Move the needle up and down and
remove the parallax between the tips
of the needle and its image.
7) Measure the distance between the tip
and upper surface of the lens using a
plumb line and half metre scale.
8) Also, measure the distance between
the tip and the surface of its plane
mirror.
• For the Focal Length of the
Combination
7
1) Take a few drops of Water on the
plane mirror and put a convex mirror
over it.
2) Repeat 6, 7 and 8 and same for
glycerine and turpentine oil.
3) Record your observations.
8
Observation: Given Radius of curvature
of lens =19.24cm
Arrangement The distance of the tip of Focal
needle Length
From From Mean (x)cm.
lens plane x=(x1+x2)/2
surface mirror cm.
(x1)cm. Surface
(x2)cm.
Without
Liquid
With Water
With
Glycerin
With
Turpentine
Oil
9
Calculation: For water,
1/f2=(1/f1-1/F)
1/f2=(1/20-1/31)
1/f2= 0.177
Refractive Index of water is = 1+R/f2
=1+19.24* 0.0177
= 1.34
Similarly, for Glycerin=1.50
Similarly, For turpentine oil=1.46
Precautions:
1. Only a few drops of liquid should
be taken so as not to thicken the
layer.
2. The parallax should be removed
tip to tip.
3. The liquid taken should be
transparent.
10
Sources of Error
1. The liquid may not be quite
transparent.
2. The parallax may not be fully
removed.
Bibliography:
• Wikipedia
• Ncert Lab Manual
• Ncert Text Book
11
