Aim:

Tofind refractive indices of water and turpentine oil using a plane

mirror, a equiconvex lens (made from a glass of known refractive
index) and an adjustable object needle.

Apparatus:
A
convex lens, an optical needle, a plane mirro, a clamp stand, a
spherometer, a plumb line, metre scale, water and turpentine ol.

Theory:
Let's add small amount of water on a flat, plane surface and place a
convex lens over it. This forms a plano-concave lens of water between
the lower surface of convex lens and plane mirror.

Let fiandf2 are the focal lengths of water lens and convex lerns
respectively, then focal length of the combination is:

The focal length of the plan0-concave lens is, ...(i)

From Lens Maker's formula,

RË= Rand R, =for water lens.

The refractive index of water is, ..(i)

(where R' is the radius of curvature of the concave surfaces of the
plano-concave lens).
The Radius of curvature of the lens, is ...ii)

Procedure:

For finding the focal length of convex lens:

() Measure the rough focal length of the convex lens.

(i) Place the plane mirror with the convex lens placed on it
above the horizontal base of aclamp stand horizontally
as its tip lies vertically above the optical centre of the
lens. Adjust the needle at a height a little more than the
rough focal length of the convex lens.

(i) Try to remove the parallax between the tip of the object
needle and its image tip.

(iv) Note the distance of the tip of the needle from the
centre of the upper surface of the lens. Let it be x,. (Use
plumb line).

(v) Remove the convex ens and measure the distance of the
tip of the needle from the plane mirror. Let it be X. (Use
plumb line).

(vi) Repeat and record all the observations.

II. For finding the focal length of the plano-concave.
lens:

Pour few drops of water over the plane mirror and place the
convex lens over it. Repeat steps (i) to (iv) as done above.
Repeat the procedure with turpentine oil also.

III. For finding :

Determine the pitch and least count of scale of the

spherometer. Place the spherometer on the dried surface of
the convex lens. Turn the screw downwards very gently till
the tip of the screw just touches the lens. Read and record
the reading.

Keep the spherometer's legs on the base ofa paper and

adjusting the central screw, find the pricks A, B and C of the
three legs of the spherometer. Join the centres of the three
pricks and measure the lengths with the half-metre scale.
Note the values of AB, BC and AC.
 lensconcave plano the length
of focal find toFlg:
3.1 Fig.
Corm
Image Needle Objed
spherometer the ofCA8C, A8, legs length
of the for (b)
lens covex lengthof focal find to(a) Fig:
(b) a)
 Observations
Pitch of the spherometer= 1 cm
Least count of the spherometer = 0.01 cm
Distance between the legs:

(1) AB =3 cm

(2) BC =3 cm

(3) CA =3 cm

Table for calculation of h'

S.N Initial No. of Final Additiona h=n Mean

reading of complete reading C.S div.X "h"
the C.S. on rotations of the C.s moved pitch
the convex on the + m

lens glass slab x L.C

(a)
1 62 6.5 55.5 0.55 0.5775
5
2 64 4 60 0.6
 To measure focal length f'of convex lens

Distance of needle tip from

Area S.No Tip of the upper Upper Mean Focal
between surface of the surface of X= length
lens and convex lens the plane
plane X mirror
mirror X
Without 30.5 31 30.75
liquid 36.7 37.2 36.95 33.85
With water 1 31.4 31.8 31.6 f-34.
37.5 38.1 37.8 7
With oil 9.4 9.6 9.5 f-10
|2 10.4 10.6 10.5

CALCULATIONS
Mean distance between two legs
=3 cm

Mean h =0.7557 cm
Iofind the radius of curvature of the convex lens:
 1) With water between the convex lens and the plane mirror:

2) With turpentine oil between the convex lens and the plane

mirror

Result
The refractive index of water is u, = 1.06552
The refractive index of turpentine oil is u, = 1.22736
 Precautions

(i The screw of the spherometer should be moved in one

direction only to avoid backlash error.

(iü) The screw should be moved just to touch the surface of the
convex lens or the glass slab.

(iii) The parallax should be removed properly.

(iv) The lens and the plane mirror should be properly cleaned.

The convex lens of large focal length should be used.

(vi) The spherometer reading should be taken first on the surface

of the convex lens and then on the glass slab.

Sources of error:

The distances x, andxË may not be measured correctly.

(ii) The value of h and I may not be correct.

(ii) Parallax may not be removed properly.

(iv) Backlash error may be acting on the spherometer.