OBJECTIVE:

To find the refractive indexes of (a)water (b) oil using a plane

mirror, an equiconvex lens, and an adjustable object needle.

APPARATUS:
A convex lens, a plane mirror, water, oil, clamp, stand, an optical
needle, plumb line, knitting needle, half meter scale, glass slab, a
spherometer.

DIAGRAM:
Fig: Focal length of glass convex les and liquid lens combination

THEORY:
1. If f1 and f2 be the focal length of the glass convex lens and liquid
lens and f be the focal length of their combination then:-
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝒇𝒇𝟐
= + or f2 =
𝒇 𝒇𝟏 𝒇𝟐 𝒇𝟏 −𝒇

2.Liquid lens formed a plano-concave kens with R1 = R and R2 = ∞

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

R=The radius of the curvature of the convex lens.

3.The radius of the lower surface of the convex lens is given by:
𝒍𝟐 𝒉
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.

PROCEDURE:

(a) 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 mean distance will be equal to the focal length of
the convex lens(f1).

(b) 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).

(c) 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 distance.

𝒍𝟏 + 𝒍𝟐 + 𝒍𝟑
l=
𝟑
OBSERVATIONS:
1.Rough focal length of convex lens= 21cm

CALCULATION:

(i) 𝑙 = 𝑙 +𝑙3 𝑙
1 2 3
=………..cm
𝑙2 ℎ
(ii) 𝑅 = 6ℎ +
2
= ………..cm
𝑓𝑓
(iii) 𝑓2 = 𝑓−𝑓 1
1
= ……….cm(water)
 = ………cm(transparent liquid)
𝑅
(iv) 𝑛 =1+
𝑓2
= ……….cm(water)
= …………cm(transparent liquid)

RESULTS:

1. The refractive index of water 𝒏𝒘 =

2. The refractive index of other liquid 𝒏𝒍 =

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.
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
INDEX

 Acknowledgement
 Objective And Apparatus
 Diagram
 Theory
 Procedure
 Observations
 Calculations
 Results
 Precautions
 Sources Of Errors
To find the refractive index of transparent liquid(Here water and oil) by
using plane mirror andequi-convex lens.VIDEO
DEMONSTRATIONhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4SpfMMEy8
Y PROJECT PROCEDUREhttp://www.seminarsonly.com/Engineering-
Projects/Physics/Refractive-Indices-of-Water-And-Turpentine-Oil.php

http://www.scribd.com/doc/124741001/Physics-
Project#scribdComprehensive Practical Physics - LaxmiPublications
Equi-convex lens, plane mirror, a thin needle,iron stand with clamp,
water and oil,spherometer, metre scale

By lens-makers formula
(
−1)( 1

−1

)=1
Where: n
g
: Refractive index of lens glassn
l
: Refractive index of liquid usedR
1
:

Radius of curvature of side 1 oflensR

2
: Radius of curvature of side 2 oflensFrom the experiment we can find
f (focallength)R
1

and R
2
(Radius of curvatures) can bemeasuredn
g
is known or easily calculated whenexperiment is done in airHence n
l
can be calculated by using the lens-makers formula

Finding Radius of Curvature of lens:

1) Determine the least count and pitch of thespherometer.2) Rotate the s
crew till it is at zero.3) Put the lens on the flat surface and placethe
spherometer on top, and rotate thescrew till all 3 legs and tip of screw
meetlens surface.4) Note down circular scale reading (call ita
1
).5) Place the spherometer on a flat surface androtate the screw till 3 legs
and tip of screwmeets the
surface.6) Note down the reading in circular scale(call it a
2
) and number of completerotations (call them
n).7) Press the 3 legs of spherometer on a sheetof paper. Using the marks
draw a triangleand measure the length of each side (l
1
,l
2
and l
3
).

8) Repeat the steps 2-

6 three times and note itdown.9) After determining the height divide it b
y 2and use it to find radius of curvature (Callit R) (This due the reason
that lens is equi-convex in nature).
Finding focal length of lens:
1) Place the plane mirror on the floor or onthe base of iron
stand.2) Fix the clamp and clamp the needle.3) Place the lens on the plan
e mirror.4) Adjust the needle and lens such that thetips object needle and
image needle appearat the centre of
lens.5) Adjust the clamp height so that both objectneedle and image
needle are of same size,tips coincide and move simultaneously atsame
speed.6) Note down the height of needle from planemirror (call it x
1
).7) Note down the height of needle from the

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surface of lens (call it x

2
).8) Repeat steps 5-7 three times.9) Take the average of the value of x
1
and x
2
.This is your focal length (f).
Finding refractive index of material thelens is made of:

1) Take R
2

as infinity. (Due to plane mirror)2) Take R

1
as R.3) Use f as f
a.
4) Here n
l
=1 as medium is air.5) Using lens maker formula calculate thev a lu e o f
ref ra ct iv e in d e x o f l en s n .
Finding focal length of lens with liquid:
1) Place the plane mirror on the floor or onthe base of iron
stand.2) Fix the clamp and clamp the needle.3) Pour the liquid on the mi
rror. (Use waterfirst so as water is easier to
clean)4) Place the lens on the plane mirror on theliquid
layer.5) Adjust the needle and lens such that thetips object needle and
image needle appearat the centre of
lens.6) Adjust the clamp height so that both objectneedle and image
needle are of same size,tips coincide and move simultaneously atsame
speed.7) Note down the height of needle from planemirror (call it x
1
).8) Note down the height of needle from thesurface of lens (call it x
2
).9) Repeat steps 5-7 three times.10) Take the average of the value of x
1
and x
2
.This is your focal length (f
w
).

11) Repeat this experiment with oil as liquidand take the focal length to
be f
o
.
Finding refractive index of material theliquid:

1) Take R
2

as infinity. (Due to plane mirror)2) Take R

1
as R.3) Use f as f
w
.4) Using the value of n
g

find n
l
which here isn
w
.5) Repeat this experiment with f as f
o
and n
l
to be n
o
.

For Radius of Curvature of lens:

Least count of spherometer: 0.001 cm
Sl.No
Circlular scalereadingNoofturns
If n=0

h=(100+a
1
)-a
2

If n
≠
0

h=(n×100+a
1
)-a
2

(cm)Lensa
1
×L.C(cm)Flat areaa
2
×L.C(cm)
1) h
1
=2) h
2
=3) h
3
=Distance between legs of spherometer
=

l= cm
Height
ℎ=

2⁄
h= cmRadius of curvature
=

6
R= cm
For focal length of lens:
Sl.No Distance of needle from
=

(cm)Mirror x
1
(cm) Lens x
2
(cm)
1) f
1
=2) f
2
=3) f
3
=Focal length
=

f= cm
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For focal length of lens with water:

Sl.No Distance of needle from

=
2

(cm)Mirror x
1
(cm) Lens x
2
(cm)
1) f
1
=2) f
2
=3) f
3
=Focal length

f
w
= cm
For focal length of lens with oil:
Sl.No Distance of needle from

=
2

(cm)Mirror x
1
(cm) Lens x
2
(cm)
1) f
1
=2) f
2
=3) f
3
=Focal length

f
o
= cm
Calculating refractive index:
Without any liquid
=

Hence refractive index of lens n=

With water:
=

)
Hence refractive index of water n
w
=
With oil:
=

Hence refractive index of oil n

o
=

Refractive index of water is:Refractive index of oil

is:1) Plane mirror should be completely clean.2) Liquid taken should be
transparent.3) Parallax error should be removed.4) Only add few drops o
f liquid is to be poured on
mirror.5) Legs of spherometer should be vertical.6) To prevent backslas
h error in spherometerrotate the screw in one
direction.1) Liquid may not be transparent.2) Parallax may not be fully r
emoved.3) Legs of spherometer should be placedevenly on convex
lens.4) Tip of screw of spherometer should justtouch the surface.