Introduction

A travelling microscope, a glass slab, lycopodium powder/chalk dust, and a piece of paper are all
required. A vertically mounted compound microscope is known as a travelling microscope. It has a
vernier scale that may be moved up and down along with the main scale. The following is an
experiment utilising a travelling microscope to determine the refractive index of a glass slab.
The refractive index is a measurement of how far a light ray deviates when it pauses between two
materials. It’s a one-d
imensional integer that determines the speed of light. The refractive index is defined as the ratio of
light velocity. The numerator is the medium that is used to determine the refractive index. The
denominator is the medium for which it is defined.

Apparatus

Three “glass slabs of varying thickness but made of the same material, a travelling microscope, and
lycopodium powder A slab is a rectangular-shaped chunk of transparent material. All of the faces are
transparent, and the faces on opposite sides are parallel. The thickness of a slab is the dimension
along which light flows within it.

A travelling microscope – short description

It’s a compound microscope with a vertical scale mounted on it. It has a Vernier scale that moves
along the main scale and maybe pushed up and down. The reading is taken by combining the main
scale and vernier scale readings in any position.

Theory

The principle behind glass slab

When a glass slab is placed on a horizontal surface, and its bottom surface is viewed from the top, it
appears to be elevated due to refraction. The apparent thickness of the slab is determined by the
distance between the apparent bottom and the top of the glass slab. The refractive index with respect
to the medium and air is given as:

n = real thickness of the slab / Apparent thickness of the slab.

Diagram
Procedure

1.Placetravelling microscope (M) on the table near a window to ensure that it receives enough light

2.The levelling screws should be adjusted so that the microscope’s base is horizontal

3.Adjust the eye piece’s position such that the cross wires are easily visible.

4.Determine the vernier constant for the microscope’s vertical scale

5.Make a cross-mark with black ink on the microscope’s base

6.The point P will be the mark

7.Make the microscope vertical and concentrate it on the cross at P so that the cross-wires and the
image of the mark P do not have any parallax

8.On the vertical scale, take note of the main scale and the vernier scale readings (R1)

9. On top of the P mark, place the thinnest glass slab

10.Raise the microscope to eye level and focus it on the cross-mark image P1

11.As previously, take note of the reading (R2) on the vertical scale (Step 7)

12.Sprinkle a few lycopodium powder particles on the slab’s surface

13.Raise the microscope even higher and concentrate it on the particle near S

14.Again, take note of the reading (R3) on the vertical scale (Step 7)

15.Rep the steps above with another glass slab of varying thicknesses

16.Make a tabular record of your observations, as shown below

Observation and tabular column
Result

Precautions

The parallax in a microscope should be correctly removed.

To minimise backlash errors, the microscope should only be adjusted upward.

Conclusion

Due to the phenomenon of refraction, when a glass slab is placed in air on a horizontal surface and its
bottom side is viewed from above, it appears to be elevated. The apparent thickness of the slab is
determined by the distance between the apparent bottom and the top surface of the slab. In a normal
observation, the refractive index of glass with regard to the medium can be seen.