AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 2
Fall 2020-2021
Section: K, Group: 03

LAB REPORT ON
To determine the refractive index of a prism using a spectrometer

Supervised By
Dr. Rezaul K. Siddique

Submitted By:

Name ID Contribution
1. Md. Foysal Ahommad 20-42659-1 Data Analysis, Calculation, Result
2. Rajin Siraj Aungkon 20-42400-1 Apparatus & References

3. Imran Ahamed (Dipu) 20-42660-1 Theory, Discussions, Procedure,

Precautions, Acknowledgements
4. Fuad Ahmed 20-42637-1 Title Page, Table of contents, Data Table

Date of Submission: 11/11/2021

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 1 of 7

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1

II. Table of Content 2

 Objective 3
 Theory

 Apparatus 4

 Procedure 4

 Experimental Data 5

 Graph 6

 Analysis and Calculation 6-7

 Result 7

 Discussion 7

 References 7
 Acknowledgements 10

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 2 of 7

1. Objective

The main objective of this lab is to determine the refractive index of the material of a given prism
using a spectrometer.

2. Theory

When a beam of light strikes on the surface of transparent material (glass, water, quartz crystal, etc.),
the portion of the light is transmitted and other portion is reflected. The transmitted light ray has small
deviation of the path from the incident angle. This is called refraction.
Refraction is due to the change in speed of light while passing through the medium. It is given by
Snell’s law

where i is the angle of incident, r is the angle of refraction, n1 is the refractive index of the first
medium and n2 is the refractive index of the second medium.
When a ray of light passes through a prism, it suffers refraction as shown in fig.1.
We can apply Snell’s Law to the ray of light at each surface. This leads to the two equations,

The angle r1 and r2 are not independent, being related by the equation,

where A is angle of prism.

Applying the exterior angle theorem we get,

Combining eq.(4) and (5), we have-

Solving eq.(2) and (3) for i1 and i2, respectively, we get-

Finally, substituting these two equations into eq.(6) we get,

 The angle δm is known as the minimum angle of deviation for the prism at the wavelength λ.

3. Apparatus

i. A spectrometer,
ii. A spirit level,
iii. A source of monochromatic light (sodium vapour lamp)
iv. A glass prism
v. A magnifying lens (for reading)
vi. A reading lamp.

4. Procedure

(A) Telescope adjustment:

1. The spectrometer and the prism table were arranged in horizontal position by using the levelling
screws (as shown in fig. 2).
2. The telescope was turned towards a distant object to being able to receive a clearer and sharper
image.
3. The slit was illuminated by a sodium vapor lamp and the slit and the collimator were suitably
adjusted to receive a narrow, vertical image of the slit.
4. The telescope was turned to receive the direct ray, so that the vertical slit was able to coincide with
the vertical crosswire.
(B) Measurement of the angle of the prism:
1. The least count of the spectrometer was determined properly.
2. The prism was placed on the prism table with its refracting angle A towards the collimator and
with its refracting edge A at the center. In this case some of the light falling on each face will be
reflected and can be received with by the help of the telescope (as shown in fig. 3).
3. The telescope was being moved to one side to obtain the light reflected from the face AB and the
cross wires are being focused on the image of the slit. The readings of the two verniers were taken
successfully.
4. The telescope was moved in other side to acquire the light reflected from the face AC and again
the cross wires were focused on the image of the slit. The readings of the two verniers were taken
accurately.
5. The angle through which the telescope was moved; or the difference in the two positions was able
to give twice of the refracting angle A of the prism. Therefore, the refracting angle of the prism
was given by half of this angle.
(C) Measurement of the angle of minimum deviation:

1. The prism was placed so that its center was able to coincide with the center of the prism table and
light fell on one of the polished faces and being able to emerge out of the other polished face,
after refraction. The telescope was turned to view the refracted image of the slit on the other face
(as shown in fig. 4).
2. The vernier table was slowly turned in such a direction that the image of slit being able to move
directed towards the directed ray, i.e.., in the direction of decreasing angle of deviation.
3. It would be found that at a certain position, the image was being stationary for some moment.
Vernier table was fixed at the position where the image remained stationary. Using telescope fine
adjusting slider, the slit was made coincide with cross wire.
4. Corresponding main scale was noted and vernier scale reading in both Vernier were also noted
successfully. (vernier I and vernier II).
5. The prism from the prism table was removed with proper care. The telescope was turned parallel
to collimator and the direct ray readings were noted carefully.
6. The difference was found between the direct ray readings and deviated readings. This angle is
being called angle of minimum deviation (δm). Refractive index of the material of the prism was
determined by using eq. (12)
 5. Experimental data

6. Analysis and Calculation

Observations:
1. Least count of spectrometer one main scale division, N = 1 degrees
2. No. of divisions on Vernier, V = 60
3. Least count = N/V = 0.0167 degrees= 60 seconds

Calculating the value of refractive index:

=
 =1.55

7. Result

i. Angle of prism: 60 degrees

ii. Angle of minimum deviation of the prism: 4 degrees
iii. Refractive index of the material of the prism: 1.55
iv. Percentage error=0.65%

8. Precautions

1. The telescope and collimator should be individually set for parallel rays.
2. The width of the slit image should be as narrow as possible.
3. Both verniers should be read cause by using both of the verniers eccentric error could be avoided.
4. The prism should be properly placed on the prism table for the measurement of angle of the prism as
well as for the angle of minimum deviation.

9. Discussions

1. The Spectrometer was set exactly.

2. The source must be in front of the collimator slit so that the image appears bright.
3. The vertical cross-wire or better the centre of the cross-wires should be made coincident with the
same edge of the slit image. Care should be taken so that there is no parallax between the cross-wires
and the slit image.
4. For the final settings the telescope must be rotated carefully with the tangent screw always in the
same direction so as to avoid back-lash error.
5. While measuring the angle of the prism, the vertex of prism should be placed at the centre of the
table.
6. While handling the prism it must be ensured that the refracting faces never be touched also it should
be always in hold between the thumb at the bottom and other fingers at the top. The faces of the
prism should be cleaned with a clean piece of fine linen.
 7. If an asbestos ring is used, it must be held in the non-lumimous part of the Bunsen flame; should be
supplied with fresh solution of common salt from time to time.
8. Main scale reading and vernier scale reading was taken properly.
9. There could be some human omission.
10. There could be some eye error.
11. All the values that was found in this experiment it was kept in mind that these values remain as
accurate as possible for best results that is desired.

10.References

1. Fundamental of Physics: Rensick & Halliday

2. Practical Physics for Degree Students (4th Edition)- written by Dr. Giasuddin Ahmad, Md.
Shahbuddin, M. Sc. M. A.
3. Practical Physics: R.K Shukla, Anchal Srivastava, New Age International (P) Ltd, New
Delhi
4. Eric J, Irons, American Journal of Physics, Vol 15, Issue 5, pp. 426 (1947)

5. Optics by A. Ghatak

6. Video Links:
i. YouTube : Refractive Prism of index -https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=oRch7irmLvo
ii. YouTube: Spectrometer -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6lnKy8NjfI
iii. YouTube: -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBuUbCA8Y3E

11.Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Rezaul K. Siddique sir for his valuable guidance in the development of this
experiment. We all really appreciate your efforts as our course instructor, thank you so much for
showing us the right path and help us to conduct the experiment successfully
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