EXPERIMENT - 1
Aim - To determine the focal length of a given concave mirror by obtaining the image
of a distant object.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
1.A concave mirror
2.A measuring scale
3.A screen
4.A mirror holder
5.A mirror stand.
THEORY
A concave mirror is defined as the spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is curved
inwards and follows laws of reflection of light.
The light rays coming from a distant object can be considered to be parallel to each
other.
If the image formed is real, inverted and very small in size, then the parallel rays of
light meet the point in the front of the mirror.
The image formed by the convex lens is real and can be obtained on the screen.
f is used to denote the distance between the pole P and the focus F of the concave
mirror.
EXPERIMENTAL SET UP RAY DIAGRAM
PROCEDURE
1. Select a distant object from the laboratory window (distance should be more than 50 ft).
2. Fix the concave mirror on the mirror stand placed on the table, facing the distant object.
3. Place the screen in front of the reflecting surface of the mirror. Move the screen back and
forth until a clear, sharp image of the distant object is obtained on the screen.
4. Measure the distance between the concave mirror and the screen with a metre scale. This
distance is the focal length of the given concave mirror. Record the focal length.
5. Repeat the above procedure twice and record the readings. Take three readings and
calculate the average focal length.
N.B . Procedure is to be written in the passive form
OBSERVATION TABLE
S NO. Position of concave Position of screen (S) Focal length = (M-S) in
mirror (M) in cm in cm cm
1
N. B – To be written in the lab copy
CALCULATION
Mean value of focal length of concave mirror =
RESULT
The focal length of the given concave mirror = 10 cm
PRECAUTIONS
1. The distant object must be well illuminated to produce a well illuminated and distinct
image.
2. Always place the concave mirror near an open window.
3. The polished surface of the concave mirror must face the distant object.
4. There should be no obstacle or hurdle in the path of rays of light from the distant object,
incident on the concave mirror.
5. The base of the stands of the concave mirror and screen should be parallel to the
measuring scale.
6. The mirror holder along with the mirror should be kept perpendicular to the measuring
scale for precise measurements.
EXPERIMENT - 2
REFRACTION OF LIGHT THROUGH A GLASS SLAB
AIM
To trace the path of a ray of light passing through a rectangular glass slab for different
angles of incidence. Measure the angle of incidence, angle of refraction, angle of
emergence, and interpret the result.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
1. A drawing board
2. 4-6 all pins
3. White sheet of paper
4. Rectangular glass slab
5. A protractor
6. A scale
7. A pencil
8. Thumb pins
THEORY
Refraction of light
When a ray of light travels obliquely from one transparent medium to another
transparent medium the direction of propagation of light changes in the second
medium. This phenomenon of light is known as refraction of light .
Laws of refraction:
The incident ray, the normal at the point of incidence, and the refracted ray lie in the
same plane.
Snell’s law states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the
angle of refraction is constant for a given colour of light and for a given pair of media .
sin i
sin r
= 1µ 2
Lateral displacement:
Lateral displacement / shift is defined as the perpendicular distance between the extended
incident ray and the emergent ray (the final ray which emerges out from the glass slab ) .
RAY DIAGRAM
PROCEDURE
1. Fix a white sheet on the soft drawing board using thumb pins.
2. Using a sharp pencil, draw the outline boundary of the glass slab, place it at the of the
white paper.
3. Let ABCD be the rectangular figure obtained by drawing.
4. Mark point E on AB and draw a perpendicular EN and label it as a normal ray.
5. Draw one angle of 30° with the help of protractor with EN. Fix pins at P and Q at 4-5
cm on the ray that is obtained by the angle.
6. Place the glass slab on the rectangular figure ABCD.
7. To fix R and S, see through the glass slab of side CD, such that when seen through the
glass slab, all the pins P, Q, R, and S should lie in a straight line.
8. Draw a small circle around the pins P, Q, R, and S and remove the pins.
9. Remove the glass slab.
10.Join points R and S such that it meets CD at point F. Draw a perpendicular N’M’ to
CD at point F.
11.Using a pencil, join the points E and F.
12.Measure the angles formed at AB and CD, i.e, the incident angle, refracted angle, and
emergent angle.
13.The lateral displacement is obtained by extending the ray PQ in a dotted line which is
parallel ray to FRS.
14.Measure the lateral displacement.
15.Repeat the same procedure for angle 45° and 60°.
OBSERVATION TABLE
SL no. Angle of Angle of Angle of i-e
incidence (i) refraction (r) emergence (e)
1
N. B – To be written in the lab copy
SAMPLE OBSERVATION TABLE
CONCLUSION
1. The angle of incidence and the angle of emergence are almost equal.
2. As the light is traveling from rarer to denser optical medium, the angle of refraction
will be lesser than the angle of incidence.
3. For different angles of incidence, the lateral displacement will remain the same.
4. The light will bend towards the normal when it travels from an optically rarer medium
to an optically denser medium.
PRECAUTIONS
1. The rectangular glass slab used should have perfectly smooth faces.
2. The drawing board should be soft so that pins can be easily fixed on it.
3. The angle of incidence should lie between 30° and 60°.
4. All pins base should be in a straight line.
5. The distance between the pins P and Q or the pins R and S, a minimum 5 cm gap
should be maintained.
6. Using a sharp pencil, draw thin lines.
7. The quality of the protractor should be good.
8. The placement of the protractor should be correct to get correct measurements.
9. The perpendiculars should be drawn with care.
N. B (RAY DIAGRAM SHOULD BE DONE IN WHITE
PAGES ONLY )
(WRITING SHOULD BE DONE IN THE RULED PAGES
ONLY )
