EXPERIRIMENT1
Am
To find the focal length of a convex mirror using a convex lens.
APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED
An optical bench with uprights for holding lens, mirror and two
needles,two needles (pins). a thin convex lens, a convex mirror, index
needle (may be a kriitting needle or a pencil sharply pointed at both
ends), a metre scale and a spirit level.
PRINCIPLE
Fig. E l1. illustrates the formation of image of an object AB by a
convex mirror MM (having a small aperture) in two different
situations. The image formed by a convex mirror is virtual and erect.
Therefore, its focal length cannot be determined directly. }iowever, it
can be determined by introducing a convex Jens in between the object
and the convex mirror (Pig. E 11.2).
M
M
A
F B P B F
Point Image
Object Image
M M'
Fig. E ll.I(a) Object is at infinity. A highly Fig. E 11.1(b) Object is in front of the mirror. A
diminished and point image is diminished virtual image is
located at the focus behind produced between the pole and
the convex mirror focus behind the mirror
An object AB is placed at point P in front of a thin convex lens such
that its real, inverted and magnified image A'B is formed atposition
ExPERIMENT 11
Con the other side of the lens [Fig, E 11.2(b)]. Now a
introduced between the convex lens and point C and so convex mirror is
the real and inverted image A'B coincides with the adjusted that
P |Fig. El1.2 (a)]. This is possible if the light object AB at point
rays
tip of the object, after passing through the lens, starting from the
reflecting surface of the convex mirror and retrace fall normally on the
normal ray (perpendicular) to a spherical surface hastheir to be
path. Any
radius of that sphere so that point C must be along the
of the convex mirror. Therefore, the the centre of curvature
distance PC is the radius of
curvature R and half of it would be the focal length of the convex
mirror. That is,
2
R
2 24.
Image of objectA L olish
pin P,
PUB
B
2F2
A Object R
pin P,
(a) re
A
Image of
object pin P,
B
2F)
CUB
E,
Object Image
pin P, pin P,
(b)
Fia. E 11.2 Image formed by (a) convex mirror and conwex lerns-image A B
concides with the object A B at P (b) conuex lens- image is inverted
and magnified
ExPERIMENT 1I
UBSERVATIONS
1. Focal length of the convex lens,f(estimated/given) =...Cm
2. Actual length of the index needle, l =... cm
3. Observed length of the index needle l'
= Position of mirror upright- position of pin upright on the scale
=... cm
4. Index correction, e= Actual length - observed length
(l - )=... cm
Table E11.1: Determnination of radius of curvature of convex
mirror, R
SI. Upright position of Observed Conected Focal Af
No. R=Cd R length
Obserred
Rte
fcm) {em) (cm) (em)
ObjeetConvex Gontexx Iutage
Din PIlens LL ateor pin P
Mean
CaLCUCULATIONS
Calculate the mean value of radius of curvature of the convex mirror,
R, and determine its focal length using the following relation
R
f= 2
=... Cm
Eror
R+l_(c - d)+(l -)
Af Ac Ad Al Al
f C d
89
LABORATORY MANUAL
of the measuring
when Ac, Ad, Al and Ar are the least cpunts to be reported with
instruments. Maximun of the five values
Afis
the result as the experinental error.
ResuLr mírror ís (ft Af ... t...cm.
The focal length of thegven covex
Here fis mean value of the focal length.
PRECAUTIONS uprights Supportíng the píns, lers and mírror smust be
rigd
1. The
and mounted vertically.
convex mirror should
The apertures of the given convex lens and
2. formed will be distorted.
be small, otherwise the ímage
about 25 crm or more from
3. Eye should be placed at a distancé of
the image pin.
horizontal. The típs of pins, centre
of
4. Optícal bench should be at the sarne
convex lens and pole of the mirror should be
horizontal level.
SoURCES OF ERROR ímage of the object pin should
just touch
1 The tip of the inverted and must not overlap. Thís should be
the típ of the image pín parallax.
ensured whíie removing the
removal of parallax tedious.
2. Personal eye defects mnay make Otherwise
preferably be front-coated.
3. The convex nírror should
multiple reflections may take place.
DscUssON experiment with just ay corrvex
It may not be possible to perform this experiment should
lens. The focal length of the lens used in this
neither be too smallnor too large. Why?
SELF ASSESSMENT determnined. by using convex
1. Iffocal length of theconcave mirror is in the
lenses of different focal lengths, do you expect any change
result? If yes, what type of change? If not, why not?
90
