ATOMIC ENERGY

JUNIOR
COLLEGE-3

AIM:-To find the refractive index of

(i)Water (ii)Oil (iii) Glycerine using a
plane mirror, an equi-convex lens.
 INDEX
1> Acknowledgement
2> Aim
3> Apparatus
4> Prereqisite
5> Theory
6> Procedure
7> Observation
8> Calculations
9> Result
10> Precautions
11> Bibliography
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks

and gratitude to our principal sir Mr A.K
Seshan who is also our subject teacher
and who gave us the opportunity and
fruitful guidance to do this project as per
CBSE curriculum. By doing this project I
got enriched with a lot of knowledge
and information which will hopefully help
me in my upcoming years.
AIM:-
To find the refractive index of (i)Water (ii)Oil
(iii)Glycerine using a plane mirror, an equi-convex lens
and an adjustable object needle.

APPARATUS:-
A plane mirror, a convex lens, an optical needle, a
vertical clamp stand, a plumb line, a dropper and a half
meter scale.

PREREQISITE:-
Focal length of double convex lens is given by lens
maker’s formula,i.e.,
1 1 1
= (𝜂 − 1)( + )
𝑓 𝑅1 𝑅2
Where 𝜂 is the refractive index of glass with respect to
air and R1 & R2 are the radii of curvature of its two
surface.
For soda glass, 𝜂 = 1.5 and for equi-convex lens, R1 = R2
= R(say)
1 2
= (1.5 − 1) ( )
𝑓 𝑅
⇒ 𝑓 = 𝑅 … (𝑖)
A plane mirror may be used to determine the focal
length of a convex lens using one pin method. For this
the convex lens s placed on a plane on a mirror at the
platform of the clamp stand. An object needle (O) may
be adjusted in the clamp stamp in such a way that its
tip lies on the principle axis of the lens and then it may
be raised to a height that the position of its real,
inverted image coincides with the position of the object.
In this situation, the rays from the object (O) becomes
parallel after refraction through the lens, fall normally
on the mirror and retrace their path to form the image
at the same position. Obviously, this will happen when
‘O’ is at the focus of the lens. Thus, the distance
between between the optical centre of the lens ‘c’ and
the position of the image ‘P’ and ‘O’ is focal length of the
lens, f and hence its radius of curvature is determined.
Now, if we put a few drops of experimental liquid under
the lens with the help of a dropper, a plano-concave lens
of that liquid is formed between the convex lens and the
plane mirror. To coincide the image of the object needle
with its real,inverted image, now, we will have to raise
the needle upward to perform ‘O’. The distance CO’ will
now give the focal length ‘F’ of the composite lens. For a
combination of two lenses in contact, the effective focal
length is obtained by using this formula,
1 1 1
= +
𝐹 𝑓1 𝑓2
where f2 is the focal length of liquid lens ,
1 1 1
= −
𝑓2 𝐹 𝑓1
Also, using lens maker’s formula we can write for the
focal length of this liquid lens,
1 1 1
= (𝜂 − 1)( − )
𝑓2 𝑅1 𝑅2
Here,R2=∞, R1=R
1 (𝜂 − 1)
∴ =
𝑓2 𝑅
Substituting the values in equation, we get,
1 1 −(𝜂 − 1)
− =
𝐹 𝑓1 𝑓1
1 1 (𝜂 − 1) 1 − 𝜂 + 1 2 − 𝜂 𝑓1
= − = = ⇒𝜂 =2−
𝐹 𝑓1 𝑓1 𝑓1 𝑓1 𝐹
Thus, knowing focal length of the given equi-convex
lens ‘f1’ and the focal length of the glass liquid lens
combination ‘F’, the refractive index of the liquid may
be determined.
Theory:-
Refractive index of a transparent material is one of its
characteristic property due to which the material can be
identified.
One of the method to determine refractive index of a
liquid using a convex lens and plane mirror,is given by
𝑓1
𝜂 =2−
𝐹
Where f1 = focal length of the given convex lens
F = focal length of the compound lens formed
convex lens made of glass and the plano-convex
lens made of liquid.
Systematic steps to perform the experiment:-

1> Place the plane mirror upon the horizontal and

flat base of iron stand and place an equi-convex
lens on the reflecting surface of the plane mirror.
2> Clamp an object needle on the iron stand so
that its tip is vertically above the optical centre of
the convex lens.
3> Keeping the eye at least at the distance of
distinct vision adjust the position of the object
needle till parallax between the object needle and
its real and inverted image is remove tip to tip.
Using a plump line and half meter scale to
determine the distance ‘a’ between the tip of the
object needle and the upper surface of the lens and
also the distance ‘b’ from the tip of the needle to
upper surface of lane mirror.
4> Now, put a few drops of water on the plane
mirror under the lens, with the help of a dropper.
Take care that no air bubbles are introduced in the
water lens formed. Now raise the object needle and
adjust its position again to no parallax position
between the tip of the needle and its inverted
image. Using plump line and meter scale again
measure the of the tip of the needle from the upper
 surface of the lens ‘a1’ and the upper surface of the
plane mirror ‘b1’. Repeat the experiment 3-4 times
to minimize random errors and record your
observations in the table given below.
5> Repeat the experiment with at least one more
transparent liquid as experimental liquid in place
of water
Observations:-

{A} TABLE FOR DETERMINATION OF FOCLLENGTH OF CONVEX

LENS (f1)

S NO FOR COMPOUND LENS FOCAL LENGTH OF

DISTANCE BETWEEN OBJECT NEEDLE THE COMPOUND
AND LENS

LENS PLANE MIRROR

1 21 21.5 21.25

2 20.5 21 20.75

3 20 20.5 20.75

{B} TABLE FOR DETERMINATION OF FOCLLENGTH OF

COMPOUD LENS (F’) WITH WATER AS EXPERIMENTAL LIQUID

S NO FOR COMPOUND LENS FOCAL LENGTH OF

DISTANCE BETWEEN OBJECT NEEDLE THE COMPOUND
AND LENS

LENS PLANE MIRROR

1 31 31.5 31.25

2 31 31.5 31.25

3 30.5 31 30.5
 C} TABLE FOR DETERMINATION OF FOCLLENGTH OF
COMPOUD LENS (F’) WITH GLYCERIN AS EXPERIMENTAL
LIQUID

S NO FOR COMPOUND LENS FOCAL LENGTH OF

DISTANCE BETWEEN OBJECT NEEDLE THE COMPOUND
AND LENS

LENS PLANE MIRROR

1 36 36.5 36.25

2 36.5 37 36.75

3 36 36.5 36.25

D} TABLE FOR DETERMINATION OF FOCLLENGTH OF

COMPOUD LENS (F’) WITH OIL AS EXPERIMENTAL LIQUID

S NO FOR COMPOUND LENS FOCAL LENGTH OF

DISTANCE BETWEEN OBJECT NEEDLE THE COMPOUND
AND LENS

LENS PLANE MIRROR

1 37.5 38 37.75

2 36.8 37.5 37.1

3 37.5 38 37.75
CALCULATIONS:-
𝑓1
1> Refractive index of water,𝜂 = 2 − 𝐹
=1.33
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Percent error= × 100% = 0%
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

𝑓1
2> Refractive index of water,𝜂 = 2 − 𝐹
=1.33
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Percent error= 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
× 100% = 0%

𝑓1
3> Refractive index of water,𝜂 = 2 − 𝐹
=1.33
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Percent error= × 100% = 0%
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

RESULT:-
1> Experimentally determine value of refractive index
water = 1.33
Standard value = 1.33
Per cent error = 0%
2> Experimentally determine value of refractive index
glycerine = 1.43
Standard value = 1.47
Per cent error = 2.7%
3> Experimentally determine value of refractive index
oil = 1.44
Standard value = 1.44
Per cent error = 0%

PRECAUTIONS:-
1> Before starting the experiment the experiment
clean the convex lens and plane mirror.
2> Clamp the object needle firmly and it should stay
horizontal, so as to be normal to the principal axis of
the lens be vertical.
3> The platform on which the plane mirror is placed
should be horizontal so that the principal axis of the
lens be vertical.
4> While observing the image keep your eyes at least
at the least distance of distinct vision.
5> Parallax should be removed tip to tip.
6> While dropping liquid under the lens take care that
a proper bubbleless plano-convex lens formed
between the convex lens and the plane mirror mirror.
For this put few drops only drop by drop.

SOURCES OF ERROR:-
1> The plane mirror surface may not be horizontal.
2> The object needle may not be horizontal.
3> The liquid may be impure.
4> Personal errors.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books:
Together with lab manual

Online Sources:
https://www.learncbse.in/to-determine-refractive-index-of-glasslab-using-a-traavelling-microscope/