Bibliography

1. NCERT text book

2. Wikipedia.com
3. Cbse.nic.in
 Calculation And Tabulation
Method-1

Trial For empty concave mirror For water filled concave mirror Nwa = R/R’
NO PC = R (cm) PC’ = R’ (cm)
1 47.4 36 1.32
2 47.6 36.2 1.31
3 47.7 36.2 1.33

Mean nwa= 1.33

Radius of curvature (mean) = 47.5 cm
 Calculation And Tabulation
Method-2
Trial no MSR CSD R1 MSR CSD R2 h = R1-R2
1 9 86 9.86 9 57 9.57 0.29
2 9 86 9.86 9 57 9.57 0.29
3 9 87 9.87 9 57 9.57 0.29

Mean(h)= 0.29
L1 = 32 mm , L2 = 32 mm , L3 = 30 mm
Mean L = L1+L2+L3/3 = 32+32+30/3 = 31.3 mm
Radius of curvature of concave mirror =
R = L^2/6h + h/2
= (31.3)^2/6*0.29 + 0.29/2
= 47.49 cm
 VIDYANIKETAN PUBLIC SCHOOL
Ullal Road cross, UllalUpanagar, Bangalore – 560056

Certificate
This is to certify that TARUN . D of class XI has successfully
completed his Physics project titled “ RADIUS OF CURVATURE
OF A CONCAVE MIRROR”prescribed by the central board of
secondary education towards partial fulfillment of AISSCE
course during the academic year 2019 – 20. This project is
certified to be the bonafide work of the student.
DATE:

INTERNAL EXAMINER TEACHER IN CHARGE

EXTERNAL EXAMINER PRINCIPLE

 ACKOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to our principal Mr. Vijai

Krishna Rajagopal by thanking him for providing me the
opportunity for conducting the experiment. I also acknowledge
my teacher Mr. Dinesh for his valuable guidance which helped
me through the course of the same.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Shashi for
helping me find resources and navigating the lab and Mr.
Ranjith in aiding me in the completion of the project.

TARUN D
CLASS XI
 VIDYANIKETAN PUBLIC SCHOOL
Ullal Road cross, UllalUpanagar, Bangalore – 560056

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Radius of curvature of concave mirror using different

methods

Ta
run D
Class XI
2019-2020
PHOTO GALLERY
 INDEX

1. Introduction
2. Objective
3. Apparatus required
4. a) Theory for method 1
b)Theory for method 2
5. Experimental procedure
6. Observation and calculations
7. Application
8. Picture gallery
9. Bibliography
 INTRODUCTION

A concave mirror or converging mirror has a reflecting surface

that is recessed inward. Concave mirrors reflect light inward to
one focal point. They are used to focus light. Unlike convex
mirrors, concave mirrors show different image types depending
on the distance between the object and the mirror.
 APPARATUS REQUIRED

1. Concave mirror
2. Plumb line
3. Water
4. Stand
5. Needle
6. Spherometer
7. Plane glass plate
8. Scale
9. Pencil
 THEORY
METHOD 1
Finding the radius of curvature of concave mirror
by using the refractive index of water

As a result of light through a liquid the bottom of the container

of a liquid seems to be raised. The refractive index of the liquid
is related to real depth and apparent depth of the container as
follows.
Refractive index = Real depth/Apparent depth
 PROCEDURE
METHOD 1
1. Find the approximate focal length of concave mirror using
distant object method.
2. Now place concave on a horizontal surface of the stand.
3. Mount object needle on the clamp stand between F and
2F of the mirror. Look for inverted image of the needle.
4. Coincide the tips of the object needle and its image.
Remove parallax.
5. Measure vertical distance R ( R = radius of curvature)
between object needle and mirror using the plumb line.
6. Pour some water on the curved surface of the mirror using
a dropper.
7. Lower the needle slowly, till once again the parallax
between the tip of the pin and its inverted image is
removed.
8. Measure vertical distance between the tip of the needle
and mirror using plumb line. (R’= apparent radius of
curvature)
9. Measure R’ between object needle and mirror using the
plumb line.
 THEORY
METHOD-2
Finding radius of curvature of a concave mirror using
Spherometer
It works on the principal of micrometer screw. It is used to
measure very small thickness or radius of curvature of
spherical surface that is why it is called a spherometer.

SPHEROMETER
 PROCEDURE
METHOD-2
1. Determine the pitch and least count of spherometer.
2. Set the concave mirror on the horizontal surface with its
convex surface upward.
3. Now place the spirometer on concave surface so that its
three legs touching the surface and central screw
sufficiently up.
4. Now turn the screw till its tip just touches the concave
surface.
5. Take the reading of circular scale, which comes in line with
the main scale.
6. Now remove the mirror and turn the turn the screw till it
just touches the glass plate.
7. Note the number of complete rotations of the circular
scale.
8. Total reading is calculated using the formula
h=(n * pitch) + (u * LC) where u=(100 + a)-b
9. Repeat the above procedure three times. Find the mean
value of h.
10. Now place the spherometer on a sheet of paper and
just press it to obtain the point marked of three leg tips A ,
B and C.
11. Measure the distance between the legs AB , BC and
CA.
12. Radius of curvature of concave mirror
R = l^2/6h + h/2
 OBJECTIVE

To find the radius curvature of a concave mirror by using

two different methods:
1. Refractive index of water
2. Spherometer
 APPLICATIONS
Some concave mirror uses are listed in the points below.
 Shaving mirrors
 Head mirrors
 Ophthalmoscope
 Astronomical telescopes
 Headlights
 Solar furnaces
Concave mirrors reflect light inward to one focal light. Therefore they
are mostly used to focus light. A concave mirror shows different image
types depending on the distance between the mirror and the object.
Concave mirrors are called converging mirrors because as light falls on
the mirror, it collects the light and refocuses the parallel incoming rays.
Some of the most important and common application of concave
mirror are described below.

Used in shaving mirrors

Concave mirrors are most commonly used in shaving because of its
reflective and curved surface. During shaving, the concave mirror forms
an enlarged and erect image of the face when the mirror is held closer
to the face.

Used as a head mirror

Concave mirrors are also used by E.N.T. specialist. They put the concave
mirror on their patient’s forehead. When the light rays from the light
source are reflected from the concave mirror, it is focused into the ear,
nose, or throat of the patient making the infected parts more visible.

Concave mirror uses in the ophthalmoscope

Concave mirrors are used in optical instruments such as
Ophthalmoscope. Ophthalmoscope consists of a concave mirror with a
hole in the center. The doctor focuses through the small hole from
behind the concave mirror while a light beam is directed into the pupil
of the patient’s eye. This makes the retina visible and makes it easy for
doctors to check.

Uses of concave mirror in astronomical telescopes

Concave mirrors are also used in making astronomical telescopes. In an
astronomical telescope, a concave mirror of a diameter of 5 meters or
more is used as the objective.

Concave mirrors used in headlights

Concave mirrors are widely used in headlights of automobiles and
motor vehicles, torch lights, railway engines, etc. as reflectors. The light
source is placed at the focus of the mirror, so after reflecting the light
rays travel over a huge distance as parallel light beams of high intensity.

Used in solar furnaces

Large concave mirrors are used to focus sunlight to produce heat in the
solar furnace. They are also used in solar ovens to collect a large
amount of solar energy in the focus of the concave mirror for heating,
cooking, melting metals, etc.