INTRODUCTION

In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat,

polished surfaces that refracts light. The exact angles between
the surfaces depend on the application. The traditional
geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a
triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use
“prism” usually refers to this type.

Some types of optical prism are not in fact in the shape of

geometric prisms. Prisms can be made from any material that
is transparent to the wavelengths for which they are designed.
Typical materials include glass, plastic and fluorite. Prism
can be used to break light up into its constituent spectral
colors (the colors of the rainbow). Prisms can also be used to
reflect light, or to split light into components with different
polarizations. Before Isaac Newton, it was believed that white
light was colorless, and that the prism itself produced the
color.

Newton’s experiments demonstrated that all the colors already

existed in the light in a heterogeneous fashion, and that
“corpuscles” (particles) of light were fanned out because
particles with different colors traveled with different speeds
through the prism. It was only later that Young and Fresnel
combined Newton’s particle theory with Huygens’ wave
theory to show that color is the visible manifestation of light’s
wavelength. Newton arrived at his conclusion by passing the
red color from one prism through second prism and found the
color unchanged. From this, he concluded that the colors must
already be present in the incoming light and white light
consists of a collection of colors. As the white light passes
through the triangular prism, the light separates into the
collection of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo
and violet. This collection of colors formed by the prism is
called the spectrum. The separation of white light into its
spectrum is known as dispersion.

Dispersion occurs because each color travels through the

prism at different speeds. Violet travels the slowest through
the prism; hence we can see it refracting the most. On the
other hand, red passes through at a much fast rate which
makes its angle of refraction less, hence red is too scarce to be
seen.
Experimental setup
AIM:
To investigate the dependence, of the angle of deviation on
the angle of incidence, using a hallow prism filled, one by
one, with different transparent fluids.

APPARATUS:
Drawing board, white sheets of paper, hollow prism, different
liquids (water, kerosene oil, etc), drawing pins, pencil, half
meter scale, thump pins, graph papers and a protractor.

THEORY:
Refraction of Light through a Prism –
Diagram shows section ABC of a prism taken by a vertical
lane, perpendicular to the edge. BC is the base of the prism
and AB and AC are its two refracting surfaces.

DIAGRAM: Refraction through a prism.

RQ is the incident ray.

QS is the refracted ray.
ST is the emergent ray.
RQN1 = i = angle of incidence
SQN3 = r1 = angle of refraction inside prism
QSN3 = r2 = angle of incidence inside prism
TSN2 = e = angle of emergence
BAC = A = angle of prism
SFK = D = angle of deviation
In QFS, KFS = FQS + FSQ
D = (i – r1) + (e – r2)
 D = i + e – (r1 + r2)
… (1)

In QS1N3, r1 + r2 + QN3S = 180⁰

… (2)

The quadrilateral AQN3S is cyclic quadrilateral, then

A + QN3S = 180
… (3)

From (2) and (3)

A = r1 + r2
… (4)

Eq. (1) become

D=i+e-A
D+A=i+e
… (5)

Angle of Minimum Deviation -

 Definition: The minimum value of angle of deviation is
called angle of minimum deviation. It is represented by
the symbol Dm.
 Explanation: For same angle of deviation (D) there are
two values of angle of incidence. One value equals ‘i’
and other value equals ‘e’. As angle ‘i’ is increased from
a small value, ‘e’ decreases from large value and angle of
deviation decreases. When angle of deviation is
minimum (Dm), then, ‘i’ and ‘e’ becomes equal.
The refracted ray QS goes parallel to base BC.
Since i = e, we have r1 = r2.
Hence, at minimum deviation, when r1 = r2 = r (say).
We have A = r1 + r2 = r + r = 2r
⇒ r = A/2

Also, at minimum deviation, D = Dm and i = e

From relation, A + D = i + e
We have, A + Dm = i + i = 2i
⇒ i = A+Dm /2

From Snell’s law,

n = sin i /sin r

We have n =

This relation is useful for determination of n for Prism

material.
DIAGRAM:

DIAGRAM: Refraction through prism at different angles

PROCEDURE:

1.A white sheet of paper was fixed on the drawing board with
the help of drawing pins.

2.A straight line XX’ parallel to the length of the paper was
drawn nearly in the middle of the paper.

3.Points Q1,Q2,Q3 and Q4 were marked on the straight line XX’

at suitable distances of about 6cm.

4.Normal’s N1Q1,N2Q2,N3Q3 and N4Q4 were drawn on points

Q1,Q2,Q3 and Q4.

5.Straight lines R1Q1,R2Q2,R3Q3 and R4Q4 were drawn making

angles of 40⁰,45⁰,50⁰ and 55⁰ respectively with the normals.

6.One corner of the prism was marked as A and it was taken

as the edge of the prism for all the observations.

7.Prism with its refracting face AB was put in the line XX’
and point Q1 was put in the middle of AB.

8.The boundary of the prism was marked.

9.Two pins P1 and P2 were fixed vertically on the line R1Q1 and
the distance between the pins were about 2cm.

10. The images of points P1 and P2 were looked through face

AC.
11. Left eye was closed and right eye was opened and was
brought in line with the two images.

12. Two pins P3 and P4 were fixed vertically at about 2cm

apart such that the open right eye sees pins P4 and P3 as images
of P2 and P1 in one straight line.

13. Pins P1,P2,P3 and P4 were removed and their pricks on the
paper were encircled.

14. Steps 7 to 13 were again repeated with points Q2,Q3 and Q4

for i=45⁰,50⁰ and 55⁰.

15. Straight lines through points P4 and P3 were drawn to

obtain emergent rays S1T1, S2T2, S3T3 and S4T4.

16. T1S1,T2S2 ,T3S3 and T4S4 were produced inward in the

boundary of the prism to meet produced incident rays R1Q1,
R2Q2,R3Q3 and R4Q4 at points F1,F2,F3 and F4.

17. Angles K1F1S1,K2F2S2,K3F3S3 and K4F4S4 were measured.

These angles give angle of deviation D1, D2,D3 and D4.

18. Values of these angles were written on the paper.

19. Angle BAC was measured in the boundary of the prism.

This gives angle A.

20. Observations were recorded.

OBSERVATIONS:
Angle of hollow prism A = 60⁰

RESULTS:
 The angle of minimum deviation for –
Water Dm = 23⁰C
Kerosene oil Dm = 33⁰C
Turpentine oil Dm = 32⁰C
 The refractive indices of the-
Water n = 1.32
Kerosene oil n = 1.46
Turpentine oil n = 1.44
 Speed of light in-
Water v = 2.3x108 m/s
Kerosene oil v = 2.05x108 m/s
Turpentine oil v = 2.08x108 m/s
PRECAUTIONS:

 The angle of incidence should lie between 35⁰ – 60⁰.

 The pins should be fixed vertical.
 The distance between the two pins should not be less
than 10mm.
 Arrow heads should be marked to represent the incident
and emergent rays.
 The same angle of prism should be used for all the
observations.

SOURCES OF ERRORS:

 Pin pricks may be thick.

 Measurement of angles may be wrong.