Aim:

To investigate the dependence of the angle of deviation on the angle of incidence using a hollow
prism filled one by one, with different fluids.
Principle:
Diversion on light beam because of refractive index of different fluids

Apparatus:
hollow prism, fluids with different refractive index, wooden board, thumb pins, sheet of paper.
Procedure:
1. keep the prism with fluid filled in it on paper
2. trace the prism and make a normal with respect to prism's base
3. with respect to the normal make a line with any angle
4. attach some pins on that line and try to see those pins from other side of prism and see it
in this way that the pins will coincide each other
5. once the pins coincide with each other attach some more pins on the other side so that
those pins would also coincide with other pins
6. now make a line with the help to attached pins on the other side and measure the angle
between normal and new line obtained
7. Try with different angle and different refractive index fluids
Observations:
The following are the observation tables of each of the
liquids used to find out their respective refractive indices-
Benzaldehyde:

Sr.no. Angle of prism Angle of incidence Angle of deviation

1 60 30 45

2 60 35 42

3 60 35.7 40

4 60 39 42

5 60 40 45

U= 1.504
Water

Sr.no. Angle of prism Angle of incidence Angle of deviation

1 60 30 25

2 60 35 22

3 60 40 20

4 60 45 22

5 60 50 25

U= 1.306

Dilute sulphuric acid:

Sr.no. Angle of prism Angle of incidence Angle of deviation

1 60 20 33

2 60 30 30

3 60 35 25

4 60 40 29

5 60 45 30

U= 1.351

Result:The refractive indices change when the liquid used in the prism changes. From the above
experiment we can also
conclude that refractive index of a liquid depends on its optical density.Refractive indices of the
used liquids obtained, when compared with the actual values are as follows-
1. Benzaldehyde:
Actual = 1.5456
Obtained = 1.504
Deviation/Error = 0.0416
2. Water:
Actual = 1.33
Obtained = 1.306
Deviation/Error = 0.024

3. Dil. Sulphuric Acid:

Actual = 1.43
Obtained = 1.351
Deviation/Error = 0.079

Conclusion:
Hereby, with this experiment we have learned how angle of deviation is dependent on angle of
incidence.
Precautions:
1. Angle of incidence should be between 35 and 60 for better observations and accurate
readings.
2. Pins should be vertically fixed and should not be bent or damaged as reading can change.
3. Same hollow prism should be used for all observations to minimize error due to prism.
4. Error or deviation in obtained refractive indices must not be more than 0.1.
5. The distance between the pins should be more than 10mm