Class 12 Physics practical

reading To find the focal length

of aconvex lens by plotting a
graph between u and vor
between 1/uand 1/v.
December 22, 2019

Aim

Tofind the focal length of a convex lens by

plotting a graph between u and v or between
1/u and 1/v.

Apparatus Required
An optical bench, three uprights, a convex
lens, a lens holder, two optical needles, a
knitting needle and a metre scale.

Theory
The focal lengthfof a convex lens is related
to the object distance u and image distancev
by the lens formula, given by
iage ct
Imege of Gbiect pin
pin

2F

-imaçe pn

Ctjet pin
Fig.

Ray diagram

Procedure

1. Get a sharp image of a distant object (say a

tree) ona wallor ascreen. Measure the
distancebetween the lens and the wall.
Record it as approximate focal length of a
lens.

2.Place the lens upright near the middle of

the optical bench and the two needle uprights
on either side of the lens.

3. Adjust the levelling screws provided in the

optical bench to make the lens vertical.
Ensurethat the principal axis of the lens is
parallel to theoptical bench scale.
4. Note the position of the index mark at the
base of lensupright. Keep theobject pin at a
position so that its tip and teh centreof the
lens are separated a distance equal to the
length of the given knitting needle (sayx cm).
Record the positions of the index mark of the
object pin and the lens uprights on the bench.
Calculate thedifference in the positions of the
lens and the object pin, say y cm The index
correction for the object distance u is (x - y)
cm. This correction is algebraically added to
the object distance.
5.Repeat step 4 to find the index correction
for the image distance between the lens and
the image pin.
6. Keep the object pin at a distance of nearly
1.5 times the apprOximate focal length. Adjust
the height of the needle, equal to theoptical
center of the lens. Keeping one eye closed and
looking from the other side of the lens, locate
the clear inverted image of the pin. It will
appear to be enlarged.
7.Keep the image pin at a distance of more
than double the rough focal length. Adjust its
heights so that the tip of the needle just
coincides with the inverted tip of the image of
the other needle. To differentiate between the

two, insert a piece of paper on the tip of one

of the needles. Use lateral (side ways) motion
sCrew to make the tips coincide.
8. Move the eye sideways andseethat there is
no parallax between the image needle and the
image of the object needle. If need be, move
the image needle forward or backward. When
the parallax is removed, the tips will coincide
and they will appear tobe coinciding for all
positions of the eye.
9. Record the positions of the index marks of
the lens, the object pin and image pin from
the scale of the optical bench.
10. Change the position of the object pin by a
small distance (say 2 cm) away from the lens
and readjust the image pin tO record at least
fivedifferent sets of observations.
Scale :
Along X-axis, 1 div. = .....m
Along Y-axis, 1div. =....cm

45
 Poston

53 en62 B87
31 16 lea83eo27
38 86
2 50
33 68 86
35 70
L
244
84
5 36
8o

2 2

139o
 Resit

Mean f 8844 ti23 -

3
Precautions

1. The tips of needles and the optical centre of

thelens should be at the same height.
2. The uprights should be vertical.
3. Parallax should be removed from tip to tip.
4. Proper index correction should be applied.
5. The experiment should be performed in a
well-lit room.

Sources of Errors

1. The needles are not at the same height.

2. Index corrections not properly applied.
3. Parallax not removed.