INDEX

1. Aim
2. Apparatus Required
3. Theory
4. Procedure
5. Observations
6. Conclusions
7. Precautions
8. Bibliography
Aim
To find out the refractive indices of water using a hollow prism

Apparatus Required
 Hollow glass prism
 Water
 Bell pins
 Drawing board
Theory
A prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that
refract light. Prisms can be
made from any material that is transparent including glass, plastic and
fluorite. A prism can be used to break light up into its constituent spectral
colors. Prisms can also be used to reflect light, or to split light into
components with different polarizations.

The refractive index of the liquid

Is given by the formula:
U=sini/sinr=sin((a+d)/2)/sin(a/2)
Where,
U=refractive index of the liquid.
a= the angle of minimum deviation
d=angle of prism
i=angle of incidence
r=angle of refraction
Procedure

 Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing board with help of drawing
pins.

 Keep the prism and mark the outline of it as ABC.

 Drop a normal PQ on the side AB.

 Draw the angle of incidence in accordance with the normal PQ and place
2 pins so that they appear to be in the straight line.

 Place the prism filled with given sample of liquid ,on the marked outline
ABC.

 Now take the pins and place them on the side AC so that all the 4 pins
appear to be in same line.

 Remove the prism and draw the line joining the points so obtained.

 Mark the diagram as shown in the figure.

Observation

Water
S.no a º(angle of i º (angle of d º (angle of
prism) incidence) deviation)
1 60 30 25
2 60 35 22
3 60 40 20
4 60 45 22
5 60 50 25
6 60 55 28

U=sin((60+22)/2)/sin(30)
= 1.306
Conclusion
Refractive indices at room temperature:

 Water
o Actual: 1.33
o Experimental: 1.306
Precautions

 Angle of incidence should lie b/w 35-60 degree.

 Pins should be vertically fixed and should lie in same line.

 Distance b/w two points should not be less than 10mm.

 Same angle of prism should be used for all observation.

 Arrow head should be marked to represent emergent and

incident ray.
Bibliography
 Class 12 Ncert Book
 wikepedia.org
 google.com
 physicsforlife.com
 earthphysics.com