Lakshmipat Singhania Academy

Session 2022-2023

AISSCE

DETERMINATION OF
REFRACTIVE INDEX OF A
LENS
Roll No.: __________________

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Physics Project
 CERTIF
ICATE
This is to certify that the project has been made by
Shriyansh Dalmia of
Class XII Section A, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, on the
topic

DETERMINATION OF
REFRACTIVE INDEX OF A LENS
as suggested by supervisor,
Mr. Suman Kumar Samanta, PGT Physics, during the
academic year
2022-2023, as per the guidelines issued by the Central Board
of
Secondary Education (CBSE) and has completed the same
successfully.

_____________________ _____________________
Signature of Internal Examiner Signature of External Examiner
Examiner Number: _________ Examiner Number: _________
Date: _____________ Date: ____________

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Physics Project
 ACKNO
WLED
I would like to express my gratitude to my Physics teacher, Mr. S.K.

GEME
Samanta Sir under whose supervision and guidance, this project got its
shape. I will also like to thank the Director of

NT
Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, Mrs. Meena Kak, for being a constant
support to innovative ideas. This project could not have been a success
without Arun Sir, the lab assistant at the school either; thank you so
much sir for your support in carrying out the experiment.

I think the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) also deserves

a special mention for enabling and the undertaking of such experiential
learning projects that will nothing but help all the students. The golden
opportunity to undertake this wonderful project has helped me indulge in
active research and reading, helped me in honing my analytical and
comprehension skills. This group project has also helped me understand
the virtues of team spirit and the importance of team play; this work
would never have been finished had it not been for my other seven co-
workers!

Lastly, I would like to thank my parents and sister for being the constant
support that was needed to complete the set goals in time.

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Physics Project
 INDEX
 Introduction
 Objective
 Materials Required
 Diagram
 Theory
 Procedure
 Observations
 Calculations
 Results
 Precautions
 Sources of Error
 Bibliography

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Physics Project
 INTR
ODUCT
When light travels in a medium other than the vacuum, the atoms of that

ION
medium continually absorb and re-emit the particles of light, slowing
down the speed light. This results in the bending of light when light
travels from one medium to another. This bending of light is what we call
REFRACTION.

The speed of light in a medium depends on the properties of the

medium. In electromagnetic waves, the speed is dependent on
the optical density of the medium. Optical density is the tendency of the
atoms in a material to restore the absorbed electromagnetic energy. The
more optically dense material is, the slower the speed of light. One such
indicator of the optical density of a medium is the REFRACTIVE INDEX.

The refractive index is dimensionless. It is a number that indicates the

number of times slower than a light wave would be in the material than it
is in a vacuum. The refractive index, represented by symbol n, is the
velocity of light in vacuum divided by the velocity of light in a medium.
The formula of the refractive index is as follows:

Here,

 n is the refractive index

 c is the velocity of light in a vacuum (3 × 108 m/s)
 v is the velocity of light in a substance

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Physics Project
Refractive index is also referred to as refraction index or index of
refraction. Higher the refractive index, the higher is the optical density
and slower is the speed of light.

Refractive Indices of some common media

If the refractive index of a medium is greater than that of another, then

the first medium is said to be optically denser. Most of the substances
we know have a positive refractive index having value more than zero.
The material will have a negative refractive index when it has
negative permittivity and permeability.
The refractive index provides a measure of the relative speed of light in
different media. Knowing the refractive indices of different media helps
the student to identify the direction in which way the light would bend
while passing from one medium to another.

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Physics Project
 Refraction of Light at interface

OBJEC
TIVE
AIM: To find the refractive indices of (a) Water and (b)
Oil (transparent) using a plane mirror, an equiconvex
lens (made from a glass of known refractive index) and
an adjustable object needle.

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Physics Project
 MATER
IALS
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
REQUI
 Convex Lens
 Plane Mirror RED
 Water
 Oil
 Clamp Stand
 Optical Needle
 Plumb Line
 Knitting needle
 Half Meter Scale
 Glass slab

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Physics Project
 DIAG
RAM
S

THEOR
Physics Project
Y 9
1. If f1 and f2 are the focal lengths of the glass convex lens and liquid
lens and f is the focal length of their combination then: -

2. Liquid lens formed a Plano-concave Lens with R 1 = R and R2= ∞ then

by using lens make's formula

Here,
n = Refractive index of the liquid
R = the radius of the curvature of the convex lens.

Physics Project
PROCE 10

DURE
(A) For focal length of the convex lens
1. Find the rough focal length of the convex lens.

2. Place a plane mirror on the horizontal base of the iron stand and
then a convex lens on the plane mirror.

3. Hold the needle in the clamp stand and adjust its position on the
stand such that there is no parallax between tip of the needle and
its image.

4. Measure distance between tip and upper surface of the lens by

using a plumb line and half meter scale. Also measure the
distance between tip of needle and upper surface of the mirror.
Take the mean of the two readings. This means distance will be
equal to the focal length of the convex lens (f 1).

(B) For focal length of the combination.

1. Put a few drops of the water on the plane mirror and put the
convex lens over it with its same face above as before. The water
spreads in a form of layer and acts like a Plano-concave lens.

2. Repeat the steps 3 and 4 done for (A) to determine the equivalent
focal length of the combination.

3. Repeat the steps 1,2,3 for (B) for other transparent liquid (oil).

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Physics Project
 OBS
I. ERV
Rough focal length of convex lens = 30 cm

II.
ATIO
Table 1 to find the focal length of lens and combination

Arrangemen NS
Distance of Distance of Mean Focal
t Needle Tip Needle Tip length x
from Lens from Plane (cm)
surface x1 Mirror x2
(cm) (cm)
No Liquid 32 32.5 32.25 32.25
Liquid 32.5 33 32.75 32.75
Oil 39.5 39 39.25 39.25

CALCUL
ATIONS

I. f2= f * f1 / f – f1 = _____________ cm

II. n = 1 + R / f2 = ______________ cm

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Physics Project
 RESULTS
I. The refractive index of water, nw = __________

II. The refractive index of oil, nl = ___________

PRECAU
TIONS
1. The liquid taken should be transparent.

2. The parallax should be removed from tip to tip.

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Physics Project
 SOUR
CES
OF
1. The liquid may not be transparent.

ERRO
2. The parallax might not be completely removed.

BIBLIO
GRAPH
Y
 NCERT PHYSICS Class XII

 NCERT PHYSICS Lab Manual Class XII

 Scribd Online Library

 Wikipedia

___________________________________________________

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Physics Project