REFRACTIVE INDICES OF

LIQUIDS

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

CLASS XII
2019-20

SUBMITTED BY
AMRITHA AJAY
XII-B1

ROLL NO. 3
 BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN SCHOOL
BHAVANS HILL, CHEVAYUR, CALICUT – 673017
Affiliated to CBSE No. 673017
Phone : 2354043

This is to certify that AMRITHA AJAY of class XII-B1

has satisfactorily completed the project prescribed by the
Central Board of Secondary Education for the AISSCE
course in the laboratory of this school in the year 2019-20.
Date:

Name of the candidate: Signature of the Teacher

Reg. No: in charge of the batch

Signature
Internal examiner External examiner Principal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Firstly, I owe my sincere gratitude to Mrs.Preeja.P.Nair,
Faculty of physics department, for helping me complete
this project to my level best and for her constant
guidance and valuable suggestions. I take this
opportunity to also thank our Principal, Mrs.Thara
Krishnan, for providing all the facilities possible for the
successful completion of this project.
I also thank our physics lab assistant, Mr.Ramakrishnan,
for providing all the technical support and suggestions.
I am thankful to God Almighty for giving the strength to
successfully complete my project.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Objective
3. Apparatus
4. Ray Diagram
5. Theory
6. Procedure
7. Observations
8. Calculations and Result
9. Bibliography
INTRODUCTION:
Many optical tasks require several lenses to achieve an
acceptable level of performance. One such possible approach
to lens combination is to consider the image formed by each
lens as the object for the next lens and so on. This is valid
approach, but it is time consuming and difficult. Liquid lens
experiment can be used to find the optical constants of a lens
and also to find the refractive indices of various liquids.
The theory behind the liquid lens is based on the properties of
one or more liquids to create magnification within a small
amount of space. The focus of a liquid lens is controlled by the
surface of the liquid.
Essentially the liquid must be transparent to study its
properties. To generate a liquid lens, a liquid is sandwiched
between two pieces of a clear plastic or glass. Glycerin can also
be used as a fluid in the liquid lens system. The surface profiles
of the liquid determine the focal length of the liquid lens
system and how the liquid lens focuses the light rays.
OBJECTIVE: To find the refractive indices of kerosene, vinegar
and glycerin using a plane mirror, convex lens(made from glass
of know refractive index) and an adjustable object needle.

APPARATUS: A convex lens, a plane mirror, glycerin,

kerosene, vinegar, clamp, stand, an optical needle, half meter
scale

RAY DIAGRAM:
THEORY:
In optics, refractive index is a dimensionless number that
describes how light propagates through that medium. It is
defined as
n=c/v where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the phase
velocity of light in the medium.
The refractive index determines how much light is bent of
refracted when entering a material. When light moves from
one medium to another,it changes its direction i.e; it gets
refracted.
If i is the angle of incidence of a ray in vaccum and r is the angle
of refraction then refractive index n is defined as the ration of
sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction.
If f1, fL and f are the focal lengths of convex lens, liquid lens and
combination respectively, then,
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝒇 𝒇𝟏 𝒇𝑳
Liquid lens forms a plano-concave lens with R1=R and R2=∞,
Using lens maker’s formula,
𝒇
𝒏=𝟐−
𝒇𝑳
PROCEDURE:
Find the rough focal length of convex lens by distant object
method.
Place the plane mirror on horizontal base of iron stand and
then convex lens on it. Hold the needle on the clamp and adjust
its position such that there is no parallax between tip of needle
and it’s image. Measure the distance between tip and upper
surface of the lens and also the distance between tip and upper
surface of the mirror.
Take the mean of these two distances which will be equal to
the focal length of convex lens(f1).
Focal length of combination:
Put a few drops of vinegar on mirror and place the convex lens
on it so that the liquid spreads and acts as a plano-concave
lens. Determine the equivalent focal length of the combination.
Repeat the same for other liquids.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Rough focal length of convex lens = 20cm
2. Table for focal length of lens and combination

DISTANCE OF NEEDLE TIP FOCAL REFRACTIVE

ARRANGEMENT LENS PLANE MEAN
LENGTH INDEX
SURFACE MIRROR DISTANCE (cm)
(cm) (cm) (cm)
WITHOUT LIQUID 19 20 19.5 19.5 NIL
WITH VINEGAR 30 30.4 30.2 30.2 1.355
WITH KEROSENE 34.5 35.6 35.05 35.05 1.44
WITH GLYCERIN 33 33.8 33.4 33.4 1.42

CALCULATIONS:
Using lens maker’s formula
𝒇
𝒏=𝟐−
𝒇𝑳
1. For vinegar,
n = 2 – 19.5/30.2
= 2 – 0.645 = 1.355
2. For kerosene,
n = 2 – 19.5/35.05
= 2 – 0.556 = 1.44
 3. For glycerin,
n = 2 – 19.5/ 33.4
= 2 – 0.58 = 1.42
These experimental values have been found matching with the
original values of refractive indices.

RESULTS:
The refractive index of vinegar = 1.355
The refractive index of kerosene = 1.44
The refractive index of glycerin = 1.42

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index
• https://www.edmundoptics.com/resources/application-
notes/imaging/liquid-lenses-in-imaging/
• NCERT PHYSICS TEXT CLASS XII