CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Barsha Das of class

XII(Science)of Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya
Mandir has completed the Investigatory Project
in Physics titled”To find the refractive indexes
of (a)water (b)oil using a plane mirror,
equiconvex lens and an adjustable object
needle” herself under the supervision and
guidance of Physics Teacher during the year
2022-23.The progress of the project has been
continuously reported and has been in my
knowledge.

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Signature of Signature of
Signature of Principal External Invigilator
Subject Teacher

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I am deeply thankful to my physics teacher
Mr.Suman sir and Mr.Dipankar sir for extending their
valuable and scholarly guidance throughout the
preparation of this project. I wish to extend my sincere
thanks to Mrs. Binadebi Harijan respected principal, Sri
Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir for her continuous
motivation and moral support for completing the work.
I am also thankful to all my respected teachers, library
staff, office staff and staff members of the physics
Laboratory of the school.
I am also thankful to the teachers and staff members of
the department of physics for extending their
humanitarian and scholastic assistance in finding out the
solutions of some query during work.
Last but no the least I am indebted to my
friends,classmates and parents for encouraging and never
let down in my confidence while completing the project.

Barsha Das
Class-XII (B)
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Science

INDEX
 Certificate
 Acknowledgement
 Objective
 Apparatus
 Diagram
 Theory
 Procedure
 Observations
 Calculations
 Results
 Precautions
 Sources Of Errors

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OBJECTIVE:
To find the refractive indexes of (a) water (b) oil
using a plane mirror, an equiconvex lens, and an
adjustable object needle.

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APPARATUS:
A convex lens, a plane mirror, water, oil, clamp,
stand, an optical needle, plumb line, knitting
needle, half meter scale, glass slab, a spherometer

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DIAGRAM:

Fig: Focal length of glass convex les and liquid lens

combination

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THEORY:
1.If f1 and f2 be the focal length of the glass
convex lens and liquid lens and f be the focal
length of their combination then:-

1 1+ 1 f f2
f =f 1 f 2 or f2 = f −f1

2.Liquid lens formed a plano-concave kens with

R1=R and R2=∞ then by using lens make’s
formula

1 1 1
=( n−1 ) ⌊ − ⌋
f2 R 1 R2

1 1
=( n−1 ) ⌊ R 1 − ∞ ⌋
1
=(n-1) ⌊ R −0 ⌋

1
f2 = n−1
R

R
n= f2
+1

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Where n=Refractive index of the liquid
R=The radius of the curvature of the
convex lens.

3.The radius of the lower surface of the convex

lens is given by:
2

R= l h
+
6h 2

Here, l is the average distance between the legs

of the spherometer and h is the difference in
the reading of the spherometer when placed
first on the convex lens and then on plane
mirror.

PROCEDURE:

(a) For focal length of convex lens:

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 1.Find the rough focal length of the convex
lens.
2.Place a plane mirror on the horizontal base
of the iron stand and then a convex lens on
the plane mirror.
3.Hold the needle in the clamp stand and
adjust its position on the stand such that
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 needle and upper surface of
the mirror. Take the mean of the two
readings. This mean distance will be equal to
the focal length of the convex lens(f1).

(b) For focal length of the combination.

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 5.Put a few drops of the water on the plane
mirror and put the convex lens over it with its
same face above as before. The water spreads
in a form of layer and acts like a plano-
concave lens.
6.Repeat the steps 3 and 4 to determine the
equivalent focal length of the combination.
7.Record the observation.
8.Repeat the steps 5,6,7 for other transparent
liquid(oil).

(c) For radius of curvature of convex lens

surface:

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 9.Determine the pitch and the least count of
the spherometer.
10.Remove the convex lens and dry it
completely. Put the spherometer on this lens
surface.
11.All the three legs of the spherometer
should be placed symmetrically on the lens
and adjust the central screw tip to touch the
surface of the lens.
12.Remove the spherometer from the surface
of the lens and place on the plane mirror
surface and record the reading.
13.Repeat the steps 10 and 11 three times.
14.Obtain the impressions of the three legs of
the spherometer on a paper and mark them
and their average distance.

l 1+l 2 +l 3
l= 3

OBSERVATIONS:
Pitch of the spherometer= 1cm
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Least count of spherometer= 0.01cm
Distance between the legs
(1) AB= 3cm
(2) BC= 3cm
(3) CA= 3cm

TABLE FOR CALCULATION OF “h”

SL Initial No. of Final Additiona h= Mea
. readin complet readin l CS n*pitc n
N g of e g of division h+ “h”
O the CS rotation the CS moved m*Lc (cm)
on the s on the
convex (n) glass
lens(a) slab

1 62 0 6.5 0.555 0.575

55.5
2 64 0 4 60 0.6

TO MEASURE FOCAL LENGTH ”f” OF

CONVEX LENS

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1.Rough focal length of convex lens= 21cm

CALCULATION:
l 1+ l 2 l 3
(i) l=
3 = 3cm

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 2

(ii) R= = 2.8861cm
l h
6h 2
+

ff 1
(iii) f 2= = 34.7cm(water)
f −f 1

= 10cm(transparent liquid)
R
(iv) n=1+ f = 1.0831cm(water)
2

= 1.2886cm(transparent liquid)

RESULTS:

1. The refractive index of water n = 1.0831

w

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 2. The refractive index of other liquid n =1.2886
l

PRECAUTIONS:

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 1. The plane mirror should be clean and fully
shining surface.
2. The liquid taken should be transparent.
3. The parallax should be removed tip to tip.
4. The eye should be at a distance about 30 cm
from the needle while removing the parallax.
5. Only few drops of liquid should be taken so
that its layer should be thick.
6. The legs of the spherometer should be
vertical.
7. The centre leg of the spherometer should
turn in one direction only.

SOURCES OF ERROR:
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 1. Liquid may not be quite transparent.
2. The parallax may not be fully removed.
3. The spherometer legs should be placed
symmetrical on the surface of the convex
lens.
4. The tip of the central screw should not just
touch the surface of lens or mirror.

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