KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

(KNUST)

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS (KNUST – Kumasi)

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES

AN EXPERIMENT TO DETERMINE THE REFRACTIVE INDEX OF THE MATERIAL OF A

TRIANGULAR GLASS PRISM

NAME: AFFUM EMMANUEL

INDEX NUMBER: 4267720
DATE: 2ND APRIL,2021.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Number

Abstract 3

Introduction 4

Diagram of Setup 5

Method/Procedure 6

Observation Table (Data) 7

Graph 8

Theory and Calculations 9-10

Results and Discussions 11

Error Analysis 12

Precautions 13

Conclusion 14

References 15
 ABSTRACT

This experiment was performed to determine the refractive index of a material of a

triangular glass prism. The refractive index was determined by way of minimum
deviation when a glass prism is placed on the prism table with the transparent sides
facing the ray from the spectrometer. The refractive angle was measured in such a
way that the refractive angle points towards the collimator. The telescope is then
moved round to receive images of the slit formed by deflection at the two faces of
the prism.
At the end of the experiment, from Snell’s law, the refractive index was calculated
wi th a minimum deviation of 34.325 ± 0.50 and refractive angle of 101.45± 0.50, the
refractive index was found to be 1.134 ± 0.01. The minimal percentage error obtained
in performing this experiment was 24.4⁒
Precise reading of vernier measurement could be affected due to alignment of
markings and division on angular vernier scale which led to the source of error in
this experiment; (that is error due to parallax in reading from vernier scale.)
Considering the accuracy obtained from the experiment within the limit of errors,
the experiment method is recommendable in the determination of the refractive
indexes of glass prisms. This is because it has been used to determine the index of
refraction (n) with high accuracy in this experiment.
Hence the experimental procedures in finding the refractive index of the material
of a triangular glass prism, with minimal error proved successful. Therefore,
experimental procedures are very reliable and may be recommended for finding
refractive indexes of other glass prisms.
 INTRODUCTION

The speed of light in vacuum is the same for all wavelengths of light by Albert Einstein (1905).
However, this is not so with material substance like glass prism, a prism usually made of glass is
frequently used to separate light into its various colors. A ray of light incident on a glass prism
bends twice in the prism. Thus, it bends when entering and again bends when leaving the prism.
The total angle through which the light ray bends is called Deviation (D). To simplify, the
deviation for the calculation it is assumed the total angle produced by the deviated is the
minimum possible deviation (Dm) for any given prism and wavelength. This minimum deviation
occurs when light ray passes through the prism symmetrically or parallel to the base prism. The
granting constant is the distant between incidence and the emergent surfaces. With the angle of
deviation (Dm), incident angle (i), and the angle of refraction (A) of the prism which is the angle
made by the incident ray and the emergent ray, then the index of refraction can be computed
based on Snell’s law (1620). The higher the index of refraction of the glass prism, the higher the
deviation of the beam. The speed of light in most materials varies with wavelength. This is
equivalent to saying that the speed of light depends on the color of the light. Moreover, if a beam
of white light enters a prim, the light is dispersed into various colors known as spectrum. These
colors, in order of decreasing wavelength ranges from red to violet. The ability of the medium
(glass prism) to disperse light is called dispersion. This phenomenon made Isaac Newton (1666)
to believe that white light is a mixture of component colors.
Undoubtedly, the angle of deviation produced when white light is incident on a glass prism
increases with increasing index of refraction and decreasing wavelength. When white passes
through a prism, violet is the most deviated color and red is the least deviated color whiles the
rest of the colors remain in the visible spectrum between these two extremes. The dispersion
arises in the prism because the velocity of the light is slightly different for different
wavelengths/colors. According to Giancoli ( 2005) spectrometer is a device used to measure the
wavelength of light accurately using a depth diffraction grating (A Prism) to separate different
wavelengths of light. This instrument is used to observe and measure the angular deviations of
incident light due to refraction and dispersion. The spectrometer during its operation allows light
from the source through a narrow adjustable slit to produce collimated beam. The light which
passes through the prism disperses into a spectrum. The spectrum is then observed using a
telescope and the various images formed by the different wavelengths at different angles of
deviations are seen through the telescope by the experimenter. The various wavelengths of the
spectrum from deviations of a prism is determined with the given grating constant. Also, the
minimum deviation, the angle of refraction for a specific color or wavelength is then used to
determine the index of refraction of a glass prism.
 DIAGRAMS OF SETUP

Fig 1: Diagrams to illustrate setup in determining the refractive index of glass prism.

METHOD/PROCEDURE

Apparatus needed includes;

1. Spectrometer
2. triangular glass prism
3. sodium flame.
4. Magnifying glass

Determination of minimum deviation (Dm)

1. The collimator slit was illuminated with sodium lamp and the spectrometer was adjusted.
2. The telescope was placed and clamped in position with a prism and the prism is rotated
on the prism table.
 3. The image of the slit is followed by the fine adjustment screw of the telescope and the
vernier reading is taken at the minimum deviation.

Determination of refractive angle (A)

1. The prism was clamped in position on the table in such a way that the refractive edge
points towards the collimator.
2. The telescope is moved round to receive the images of the slit formed by deflection and
the vernier read in each position with the image on the cross wires of the telescope.

OBSERVATION TABLES

Table 1: values for determining minimum deviation. (Dm)

Colours /Spectrum T2 / 0 T1 / 0

Red 42.10 59.25

Green 43.50 61.00

Blue 44.60 61.10

Light blue 44.00 61.50

Table 2: values for determining refractive angle. (A)

 Left Right

T2 / 0 49.15 229.15

T1 / 0 150.60 330.60

Table 3: values obtained for minimum deviation (Dm) against angle of incidence (i)

Incident angle (i) Minimum deviation (dm)

/ϴ /ϴ
33 60
38 50
42 46
51.5 41
60 43
71 50
77 58

GRAPH
 A graph of D against i
70

60

50

40
D /ϴ

30

20

10

0
30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80

Angle of incidence i /ϴ

Graph of minimum Deviation (d) against angle of incidence (i).

THEORY AND CALCULATIONS

A monochromatic (single colour or wavelength) light beam in air, obliquely incident on the
surface of a transparent medium, is refracted and deviated from its original direction in
accordance with Snell’s law
c sin i
n= =
v sinr

where n is the index of refraction, c the speed of light in vacuum (air), v the speed of light in the
medium, and i and r the angles of incidence and refraction respectively.
If the incident light beam is not monochromatic, each component wavelength (colour) is
refracted differently. This is why white light incident on a glass prism is separated into the
various Colours. We say that the material exhibits dispersion.

The explanation of this effect has to do with the speed of light. In vacuum, the speed of light is
the same for all wavelengths of light, but in a dispersive medium, the speed of light is slightly
different for different wave lengths. (the frequencies of the light components are unchanged).
Since the index of retraction n of a medium is a function of the speed of light ¿where the wave
speed in the medium is v=fλ, the index of refraction will then be different for different
wavelengths. It follows from Snell’s law that different wavelengths of light will be refracted at
different angles. The angle between the original direction of the beam and an emergent
component of the beam is called the angle of deviation D and is different for each colour or
wavelength.

As the angle of incidence is decreased from a large value, the angle of deviation of the
component colours decreases, then increases, and hence goes through an angle of minimum
deviation Dm. The angle of minimum deviation occurs for a particular component when the
component ray passes through the prism symmetrically; that is, parallel to the base of the prism
if the prism is isosceles.
It is not difficult to show that the angle of minimum deviation Dm and the refracting angle A of
the prism are related to the refractive index n, through the Snell’s law by the relationship
 Dm
sin( A + )
2
n= ,
A
sin
2

T 1−T 2
Dm ¿
2

242.85−174.20
¿
2

= 34.3250.

T 2−T 1
A ¿
2

481.2−278.3
¿
2

202.9
= = 101.45
2

34.325
sin ⁡(101.45+ )
2
Ƞ=
101.45
sin
2

¿
Ƞ = sin 101.45+17.1625 ¿ sin 101.45

(118.6125¿)
Ƞ = sin ¿
sin101.45
0.87787852
Ƞ=
0.7741165
Ƞ = 1.134
Refractive index of glass Ƞ = 1.134
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

This experiment was conducted to determine the refractive index of a triangular glass prism
using spectrometer. The maximum light intensity was incident on a glass prism through the
collimator. The refracted light was observed to have been separated into several spectral lines.
The most visible ones included red, green, greenish blue and bluish green in that order based on
their respective angles of deviation measured. The angles of deviation of the spectral lines were
recorded. The red spectrum deviated most with the highest wavelength, followed by green,
greenish blue and bluish green in that order.
From the above illustrated diagram, the angle “D” can be said to be 2 Dm when read from both
the left and right of the spectrometer. This can also be true of the refractive angle (A) of the
triangular glass prism rotated by telescope.
Results obtained for refractive angle (A) and minimum deviation (Dm) in calculating ŋ resulted in
a correct ŋ value of 1.134 which is close to the standard refractive index of glass of value 1.5.
The graph obtained as minimum deviation was plotted against angle of incidence was parabolic.
This revealed that the experiment was in the right order since that was the phenomenon in
sodium flames spectral lines. The light beam was again incident on one of the sides of the prism.
The deviated angles (D) of the most intense refracted rays were measured and recorded.
However, it was observed that the red spectrum with the longest wavelength had the least
deviation (D) followed by green, greenish blue and bluish green in order of decreasing
wavelength. This is also normal with regards to the incident beam and wavelengths of the beam
of light incident on a triangular prism. The calculated refractive index is very close to the
standard. Hence, the experiment was well performed.
However, the calculated values varied slightly from the standard values. Precise reading of
vernier measurement could be affected due to alignment of markings and division on angular
vernier scale; (that is error due to parallax in reading from vernier scale.)
Moreover, the surfaces of the prisms were thoroughly cleaned to avoid diffusion at the surfaces.
Also, readings were taken when there was no parallax between the image and the cross-wire in
the telescope. Considering the accuracy obtained from the experiment, the experiment method is
recommendable in the determination of refractive indexes of glass prisms. This is useful in the
spectacle industries for manufacturing spectacles for people with eye problems.
 ERROR ANALYSIS

Error = standard refractive index – calculated refractive index

Standard refractive index of glass = 1.5
Calculated refractive index = 1.134

Error = 1.5 – 1.134

Error = 0.366
0.366
Percentage Error = 1.5 ×100

Percentage Error = 24.4⁒

Therefore, the percentage Error obtained was 24.4⁒
 PRECAUTIONS

1. The slit of collimator was adjusted as narrow as possible so as to achieve near perfect
alignment with the crosswire of the telescope.

2. It was ensured that the transparent sides of the triangular prism faced the light rays from
the spectrometer.
3. It was ensured that angular readings taken from vernier were done carefully to avoid error
due to parallax.
4. The triangular prism was well cleaned in order to prevent diffused reflection of light rays
on striking the face of the glass prism.
5. All readings were taken when there was no parallax between the image and the cross wires
in the telescope.
 CONCLUSION

The experiment was performed with the aim of determining the refractive index of
the material of a triangular glass prism using spectrometer. Values of minimum
deviation (Dm) and refractive angle (A) obtained were substituted into the Snell’s
law formulae and refractive index of glass prism subsequently calculated to be
1.134+0.01 which is close to the standard refractive index of glass, this indicates
that the procedures can be recommended for other similar experiments.
Considering the accuracy obtained from the experiment within the limit of errors,
the experiment method is recommendable in the determination of wavelength of
source lights and the refractive indexes of glass prism. This is because it has been
used to determine the index of refraction with high accuracy in this experiment.
Hence, the experiment method is useful in the spectacle industries for
manufacturing spectacles for people with eye problems.

.
 REFERENCES

This is a list of books, authors and websites were referred to;

1. David W. S., Reginald, M. N Smith and Van-Dyke, S. A, Laboratory manual in

Experimental Physics I, Department of Physics K. N. U. S. T, pp. 72.

2. Raymond A. Serway and John W. Jewelt (2004), Physics for Scientists and Engineers (6th
Ed.) Thompson Brooks/Cole pp 132 – 139.

3. Douglas C. Giangoli (2005), physics principles with applications ( 6th Ed.) Pearson
Education,Inc.

4. Quora.com