Aim:

To determine the radius of curvature of a given spherical surface by a Spherometer.

Apparatus:

1. Spherometer
2. Glass Slab
3. Half Meter Scale
4. Convex Lens

Theory:

A spherometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the radius of curvature of a spherical

surface and a very small thickness.

Figure 3.1 is a schematic diagram of a single disk spherometer. It consists of a central leg OS,
which can be raised or lowered through a threaded hole V (nut) at the centre of the frame F. The
metallic triangular frame F supported on three legs of equal length A, B and C. The lower tips of
the legs form three corners of an equilateral triangle ABC and lie on the periphery of a base
circle of known radius, r. The lower tip of the central screw, when lowered to the plane (formed
by the tips of legs A, B and C) touches the centre of triangle ABC. A circular scale (disc) D is
attached to the screw. The circular scale may have 50 or 100 divisions engraved on it. A vertical
scale P marked in millimetres or half-millimetres, called main scale or pitch scale P is also fixed
parallel to the central screw, at one end of the frame F. This scale is kept very close to the rim of
disc D but it does not touch the disc D. This scale reads the vertical distance when the central leg
moves through the hole V.

Fig-1

Principle:

Pitch of a Spherometer
 The vertical distance moved by the screw S in one complete rotation of the circular
Scale/Disc D is called the pitch (p) of the spherometer. To find the pitch, give full rotation to the
screw (say 3 times) and note the distance (d) advanced over the pitch scale.

If the distance d is 3 mm The pitch can be represented as,

Pitch (p) =

Least Count of the Screw Gauge

The Least count (LC) is the distance moved by the spherometer screw, when the screw is turned
through 1 division on the circular. We are using a spherometer which has 100 divisions (N) on
the disc. The least count can be calculated using the formula,

Least count (LC)

The formula for the radius of curvature of a spherical surface

Approach 1:

From the figure-2, O is the centre of the circle. OE = OA = R, radius of the circle. F is the
tip of the screw at the same plane with A, B and C. EF = h, AF = a and ∠AFO =

900.

Therefore, geometrically we can write,

OA2 = OF2 + FA2

or, R2 = (R-h)2 + a2

= R2 -2.R.h + h2 + a2

∴ R = (h2 + a2 )/2h

Now, let l be the distance between any two legs of the spherometer as shown in figure 3.6, then
from geometry we have, a = . Thus the radius of curvature of the spherical surface can be given
by,

∴ R = ( 3h2 + l2 )/6h
 Fig-2

Approach 2:

From the figure 3.4, the circle is passing through A and C. O is the centre of the circle. OE =R,
radius of the circle. F is the tip of the screw at the same plane with A, B and C. CF = h, AF = a
∠EAC = 900.

∴ CE2 = AE2 + AC2

or, (2R2) = (AF2 + FE2) + (CF2 + AF2)

= a2 + (2R -h)2 + h2 + a2

∴ R= a2/2h+ h/2

Now, let l be the distance between any two legs of the spherometer or the side of the equilateral
triangle ABC (Fig-3), then from geometry we have, a = l/√3. Thus the radius of curvature of the
spherical surface can be given by,

R = a2/2h+ h/2

or, R = l2/6h+ h/2

Diagram:

Fig -3

Fig-4

Fig-5
Procedure:

1. Find the pitch (p) of the screw and count the total number of divisions (N) in the circular
scale.
2. Place the spherometer in the plane glass plate. Now rotate the head T anti-clockwise to
raise the tip of the central screw S by a certain distance.
3. Place the spherometer on the convex surface. Gently rotate T clockwise to bring down
the tip of S until it just touches the spherical surface. Use a paper strip and try to pass
between the tip of the screw and spherical surface to check if there is no gap between
them.
4. Record the initial circular scale reading (r1) in table 3.1. Circular scale reading means the
divisions engraved on the disc which coincides with the linear scale.
5. Place the spherometer on the glass slab without disturbing the initial circular scale
reading (c.s.r). Then slowly rotate T clockwise to bring the tip down and touch the glass
plate. During this rotation count the number of full rotation (n) of the circular scale. Take
the final c.s.r. (r2) when the tip touches the glass plate.
6. Repeat step 2 and 5 at least thrice by placing the spherometer at different places.
7. Now, place the spherometer on a piece of paper and press it lightly so that an imprint of
the three legs is made on the paper. You can do it on your laboratory notebook on the left
side white page.
8. Measure each side of the triangle AB, BC, and CA formed by the points (A, B, C).
9. Take mean of them. Thus we get l.

Observations:

Least count of spherometer :

Total number of divisions is the in circular scale, N = ……….

One linear scale division, L.S.D. = ……………mm

Distance moved by the screw for 4 rotations, d = ……………mm

Pitch of the screw, p = 4/d = …….mm

Therefore, Least Count, L.C. = p/N= ……………..mm

Distance between two legs of spherometer:

AB = ……… cm, BC = ………cm, CA = ……….cm

∴ l = (AB + BC+ CA)/3 = ……………………cm

Table 3.1 Table for height (h)

Circular Scale Reading (c.s.r) No. of No. of circular

Initial c.s.r in Final c.s.r. on full divisions in
Sl convex lens glass slab (r2) rotation complete rotation Total reading
No. (r1) (n)
x = r1 – r2 h = (n × p) + (x ×
LC)
or (100 + r1) – r2
mm
1
2
3

Mean value of sagitta, h = ……………… mm =………………………..cm

Calculation:

Radius of curvature of the given convex surface,

R = l2/6h+ h/2 =…………………………… cm

Precautions:

1. The screw should move freely without friction.

2. The screw should be rotated in one direction to get any reading. Otherwise back-lash
error will be introduced.
3. The circular should not be rotated any more, even slightly, when it touches a surface.
4. The linear scale is not used to take readings and h is calculated by taking the difference of
two circular scale readings. Hence we do not need to find the zero error of the instrument.