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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 3.1
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 4
times) and note the distance (d) advanced over the pitch scale. If the distance d is 4 mm The pitch
can be represented as,
Fig 3.3
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. 3.4), 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 3.4
Fig 3.5
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:
Calculation:
Precautions: