PHYSICSPROJECT

ON
DETERMININGTHEREFRACTIVEINDEXOF
DIFFERENTTYPESOFLIQUIDUSINGMIRROR
ANDCONVEXLENS(Combination)

Name-SARTHAK PANDA
CLASS-12 SEC-C
ROLLNUMBER-

MOTHERSPUBLICSCHOOL
UNIT-01,BHUBANESWAR

AISSCE2023-24
BONAFIDECERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this piece of work
entitled, "Determining the Refractive
Indexofdifferenttypesofliquidsusing
mirror and convex lens (glass)
combination"has been submitted by
Sarthak Panda of Class XII-C bearing
Board Roll Number:
for academic session 2023-24

Principal’sSignature Teacher’sSignature

External’sExaminerSignature
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The enduring pages of the work are the
cumulative sequence of extensive guidance
andarduouswork.Iwishtoacknowledgeand
express my personal gratitude to all those
without whom this project could not be in
reality.

IowemyheartfulgratitudetomyteachersMr.
Joy Sri Ram Ballay Roy,
Mrs.JashodharaSenapati,
Mr.DeepakSinha,,andMr.PanchananJenafor
theirwholehearted support and cooperationin
all possible ways b for the successful
completion of this project work "Determining
the refractiveindex of different types of liquids
using mirror glass combination." I would also
like to thank my parents and friends who
helped me a lot in finalising this project within
the limited period.

Student’sSignature
 CONTENTS
TABLEOFCONTENTS
SL.NO DESCRIPTION PAGENO

01 AIMOFTHEEXPERIMENT

02 APPRATUSREQUIRED

03 THEORY

04 PROCEDURE

05 OBSERVATION

06 CALCULATION

07 RESULT

08 PRECAUTIONS

09 SOURCESOFERROR
AIMOFTHEEXPERIMENT
To find the refractive indices of
Benzene, Glycerine, Turpentine,
CoconutOilusing aplane mirror,a
convex lens (made from a glass of
known refractive index) and an
adjustable object needle.
APPRATUSREQUIRED
● AConvexlens

● Aplanemirror

● Benzene

● Glycerine

● Turpentine

● CoconutOil

● AnOpticalNeedle

● AHalfMeterScale

● Spherometer

● Ironstandwithbaseandclamp
arrangement
 THEORY
1. If𝑓1and𝑓2bethefocallengthoftheglassconvexlens and
liquid lens and f be the focal length of their combination
then:
1 1 1
+ =
𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓

2. Liquidlensformedaplano-concavekenswithR1=R
andR2=0thenbyusinglensmake'sform:
1 1 1
=(n-1)[ − ]
𝑓2 𝑅1 𝑅2
𝑅

n=1+𝑓
2
Wheren=Refractiveindex of the liquid
R=Radiusofthecurvatureoftheconvexlens.

3. Theradiusofthelowersurfaceoftheconvexlensis
givenby:
𝐿2 ℎ
R= +
6ℎ 2

Here, I is the average distance between the legs of the

spherometerandhisthedifferenceinthereadingofthe
spherometer when placed first on the convex lens and
then on plane mirror.
DIAGRAM

OpticalNeedle
Clamp

Stand
 PROCEDURE
A) FORFOCALLENGTHOFTHECONVEX
LENS
1. Findtheroughfocallengthoftheconvex
lens.
2. Placeaplacemirroronthehorizontalbase
ofthe ironstandandthenaconvexlenson the
plane mirror.
3. Hold the needle in the clamp stand and
adjustitspositiononthestandsuchthat
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 the needle and
upper surface of the mirror. Take the mean
ofthetworeadings.Thismeandistancewill be
equal to the focal length of convex lens (f1).
B) FORFOCALLENGTHOFTHE
COMBINATION

5. Put a few drops of the Benzene on the

plane mirror and put the convex lens over it
with its same face above as before. The
Benzene spreads inaformoflayerand acts
like a Plano-concave lens.

6. Repeat thesteps3and4todeterminethe
equivalent focal length of the combination.

7. Record theobservation.

8. Repeat the steps 5, 6, 7 for other

transparentliquid (Turpentine,Gylcerine,
Coconut Oil)
C) FORRADIUSOFCURVATUREOF
CONVEXLENSSURFACE
9. Determinethe pitchandtheleastcountof
the spherometer.

10. Remove the convex lens and dry it

completely.Putthespherometeronthis
surface.

11. All the three legs of the of the spherometer

shouldbeplacedsymmetricallyonthelensand
adjust the central Screw tip to touch the
surface of the lens.

12. Removethespherometerfromthesurface of
the lens and place on the plane mirror surface
and record the reading.

13. Repeatthesteps 10and11threetimes.

14. Obtainthe impressionsofthethree legsof

the spherometer on a paper and mark them
and their average distance.
 OBSERVATION
1. Roughfocallengthofthelens=
2. Tablefordistanceofneedletipfromlens
and the mirror:

Distanceoftheneedletip

From From Mean Focal

Arrangement lens plane length
𝑿𝟏+𝑿𝟐
surface mirror X= (x)(cm)
𝟐
X1(cm) X2(cm) (cm)

Without
Liquid

WithBenzene

With
Glycerine

With
Turpentine

WithCoconut
Oil
 3. Tableforfindingh

Pitch=
Least Count(L.C)=
SL ICSD FCSD No.of Difference PSR CSR Height(h)
No. (i) (f) complete (nx (L.Cx (PSR+CSR
rotations pitch) differe )
(n) nce)

1.
2.
3.

MeanHeight(h)= cm
 CALCULATION
𝑙1+𝑙2+𝑙3
1) MeanL= =
3

𝐿2 ℎ
2) R= + =
6ℎ 2

𝑓𝑥𝑓1
3) For Benzene:𝑓2 = =
𝑓1−𝑓
𝑅
R.I=1+𝑓 =
2

𝑓𝑥𝑓1
4) ForGlycerine:𝑓2 = =
𝑓1−𝑓
𝑅
R.I=1+𝑓 =
2

𝑓𝑥𝑓1
5) ForTurpentine:𝑓2 = =
𝑓 −𝑓
𝑅1
R.I=1+ =
𝑓2

𝑓𝑥𝑓1
6) For CoconutOil:𝑓2 = =
𝑓 −𝑓
𝑅1
R.I=1+ =
𝑓2
 RESULT
1. Therefractiveindexof
Benzene is

2. Therefractiveindexof
Glycerine is

3. Therefractiveindexof
Turpentine is

4. Therefractiveindexof
Coconut Oil is
 PRECAUTIONS
1. The plane mirror should be
cleanandfullyshinning surface.
2. Theliquidshouldbe
transparent.
3. Onlyfewdropsofliquid should
be taken so that its layer is not
thick.
4. Theparallaxshouldberemoved
tip to tip.
5. Theeyeshould beataminimum
distance of about 30 cm from
the needle while removing the
parallax.
SOURCES OF ERROR

1. Theliquid maynotbequite
transparent.

2. Theparallaxmaynotbefully
removed.

3. Thespherometerlegsshouldbe
placed symmetrical on the
surface of the convex lens.

4. The tip of the central screw

should not just touch the
surfaceofthelensorthemirror.