RET

EXPERIMENT5
ATM:To determine angle of minimm deviation for
a
given prism by plotting a graph between
angle of incidence
and the angle of deviation.

APPARATUS

Drawing board, a white sheet of paper, prism, drawing pins, pencil, half-metre scale, office pins,
and a protractor.
graph paper

THEORY
The refractive index (n) of the material of the prism is given by

A+D.
n=
sin Lonly fomulat
sin

where, D is angle of minimum deviation

and A is angle of the prism.

DIAGRAM

N N No

35 40
P 45
B Qg A
B A
B
F Fa
S
C D C Ds
PCD
PA
K
T T Ts
at different angles.
Fig. Refraction through prism
OBSERVATIONS
Angle of prism A' =

Serial No. of Obs. Angle ofincidence i Angle of deviation 2DD

1. 35
2. 40
3. 45
50 rod
5 55

6 60
 Slab and Transparent Liquid 167
tive
Index of Prism Material, Glass
CALCULATIONS

deviation ZD by taking 2i along X-axis

graph between angle of incidence Zi and angle of
Dlat a
minimum deviation D corresponding
nalong Y-axis. From this graph, find the value of angle of
and of the graph.
lowest point
to the

PROBABLE GRAPH BETWEENZI AND2D

Scale
X-axis 1° = 2 Divisions
Y-axis 1°=4 Divisions

75

70

65

60

55

50
Dm
45°

40°

35

i=e
30
030 35 40° 45° 50° 55° 60° 65°70
Angle of incidence (i)

Fig. Graph between angle of incidence and angle of deviation.

Let the value of angle of minimum deviation, D,=.
A +Dm
sin 2
Then, n=

RESULT sin2
D graph indicates that as the angle of incidence (1) increases, the angle of deviation (D) first

(D_) and then starts increasing for further increase

in angle
eereases, attains a minimum value
of incidence.

Angle of minimum deviation, D, . =

(it) Refractive index of the material of the prism, n = .

168 Comprehensiue Practical Phyg
hya
PRECAUTIONSnly onp font
The angle of incidence should lie between 35°-60°.
2. The pins should be fixed vertical.
3. The distance between the two pins should not be less than 10 mm.

4. Arrow heads should be marked to represent the incident and emergent rays.
5. The same angle of prism should be used for all the observations.

sOURCESs OF ERROR ( Only

Pin pricks may be thick.
2. Measurement of angles may be wrong.