Physics Investigatory
Project
CLASS :- XII-A
ROLL NO. :- 12
PM SHRI KV INS DRONCHARYA
PRESENTATION BY DEBAYAN KAR
SUB :- PHYSICS
PROJECT GUIDER :- MS. LIJI MAM [PGT(PHYSICS)]
1
INDEX PAGE
S.NO INDEX PAGE NO. SIGN
1. CERTIFICATE 3
2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4
3. INTRODUCTION 5
4. OBJECTIVE / AIM 6
5. APPARATUS / MATERIAL 7
REQUIRED
6. DIAGRAM 8
7. THEORY 9
8. PROCEDURE 10-12
9. OBSERVATIONS 13-15
10. CALCULATIONS 16
11. RESULTS 17
12. PRECAUTIONS 18
13. SOURCES OF ERRORS 19
14. BIBLIOGRAPHY 20
2
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Debayan Kar of Class XII – A,
Kendriya Vidyalaya INS Dronacharya, has been
successfully completed the Physics investigatory project
titled: "To Find the Refractive Index of Water and Oils
"during the academic session 2025–2026 under the
guidance of her Physics teacher (PGT), Mrs. Liji Ma’am.
PM SHRI KV INS DRONCHARYA School, in the partial
fulfillment by Central Board Of Secondary Education
(CBSE) leading to the award of the annual examination of
the year 2025 -2026.
Signature of Signature of Principal
Internal Examiner (Mr. Siby Sebastian)
Signature of
External Examiner
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere thank to our Physics
teacher Ms. Liji Mam for her guidance and support in
completing my project . I would like to extend my
gratitude to our Principal Sir for providing us with all the
facilities that were required. Firstly, I extend my heartfelt
thanks to my parents and friends for their valuable
suggestions, constant encouragement, and motivation.
Their guidance and ideas have been immensely helpful
during various phases of the project. I am especially
grateful to my classmates for their support, cooperation,
and assistance, which played an important role in the
successful completion of this investigatory project.
DEBAYAN KAR
4
INTRODUCTION
In optics, the refractive index or index of refraction n of
a material is a dimensionless number that describes
how light propagates through that medium. It is defined
𝑪
as:- 𝐧 =
𝑽
Where, c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is
the phase velocity of light in the medium. For example,
the refractive index of water is 1.333; meaning that light
travels 1.333 times faster in a vacuum than it does in
water.
Refraction of a light ray
5
AIM
To find the refractive indexes of both fluids using a plane
mirror, an equi-convex lens, and an adjustable object
needle.
(a) water
(b) oil
6
APPARATUS
Convex Lens
Plane Mirror
Water
Oil
Clamp Stand
An Optical Needle
Plumb Line
Knitting Needle
Half Meter Scale
Glass Slab
Spherometer
7
DIAGRAM
8
THEORY
1. If 𝑓 and 𝑓 be the focal length of the glass convex lens
and liquid lens and f be the focal length of their
combination then: - = + or 𝑓 =
2. Liquid lens formed a Plano-concave Lens with 𝑅 = 𝑅
and 𝑅 = ∞ then by using lens make’s formula
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
⇒ = 𝒏−𝟏 −
𝒇𝟐 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
⇒ 𝒏−𝟏 𝑹𝟏
−
𝟏
⇒ 𝒏−𝟏 − 𝟎
𝑹
𝟏 𝒏 𝟏
⇒ =
𝒇𝟐 𝑹
𝑹
⇒n= +𝟏
𝒇𝟐
Where, n = Refractive index of the liquid and
𝑹 = the radius of the curvature of the convex lens.
3. The radius of the lower surface of the convex lens is
𝒍𝟐 𝒉
given by :- R = +
𝟔𝒉 𝟐
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.
9
PROCEDURE
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 (𝑓 ).
10
PROCEDURE
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).
11
PROCEDURE
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
𝒍𝟏 𝒍𝟐 𝒍𝟑
distance is given by :- l =
𝟑
12
OBSERVATIONS
Pitch of the spherometer= 1 cm
Least count of the spherometer = 0.01 cm
Distance between the legs:
AB = 3 cm
BC = 3 cm
CA = 3 cm
13
OBSERVATION
Table for calculation of ‘h’
S. Initial No. of Final Additi h=n Mean
N reading of complet reading onal x “h”
o the C.S. on e of the c.s C.S pitc (cm)
the convex rotations on the div. h +
lens glass move m x
(a) (n) slab d L.C
1 62 0 6.5 55.5 0.55 0.5775
5
2 64 0 4 60 0.6
14
OBSERVATION
To measure focal length ‘f’ of convex lens
Distance of needle tip from
Area S.No Tip of the upper Upper surface Mean Focal
between surface of the of the plane x= Length
lens and convex lens(cm) mirror(cm) (cm)
plane X1 X2
mirror
Without 1 30.5 31 30.75 f1=33.85
liquid
2 36.7 37.2 36.95
With water 1 31.4 31.8 31.6 f2=34.7
2 37.5 38.1 37.8
With oil 1 9.4 9.6 9.5 f3=10
2 10.4 10.6 10.5
15
CALCULATIONS
Mean distance between two legs is given by:-
𝑙= = 3 cm
. .
Mean of h = = 0.5775 cm
To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens given
by :- 𝑅 = + = 2.8861 𝑐𝑚
Measurement of refractive indices of water and oil
1) With water between the convex lens and the plane
.
mirror is given by :- 𝜇 = 1 + = 1 + = 1.0831
.
2) With oil between the convex lens and the plane Mirror is
.
given by :- 𝜇 = 1 + = 1 + = 1.2886
16
RESULTS
The refractive index of water is µ1 = 1.0831
The refractive index of oil is µ2 = 1.2886
17
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.
18
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.
19
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. HELP FROM INTERNET
2. HELP FROM TEACHERS
3. NCERT TEXTBOOK
4. NCERT Physics Lab Manual SL ARORA
5. www.google.com
6. www.scribd.com
7. www.wikipedia.com
20
THANK YOU
