A Project Report on

“TO FIND THE REFRACTIVE INDICES OF (a)WATER,

(b)OIL (TRANSPARENT) USING A PLANE MIRROR, AN
EQUICONVEX LENS, (MADE FROM A GLASS OF KNOWN
REFRACTIVE INDEX) AND AN ADJUSTABLE OBJECT
NEEDLE”

Submitted By
KRISH KEDIA
Class: 12th (Science)

Under the Guidance of

Dr. Upendra Mishra
PGT (Physics)
Department of Physics
D.A.V- K.V.B. School, Biratnagar -13
Morang (Nepal)
 Department of Physics
D.A.V- K.V.B. School, Biratnagar -13
Morang (Nepal)

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that KRISH KEDIA

Of Class XII (Sci) has prepared the report on the Project entitled
“TO FIND THE REFRACTIVE INDICES OF (a)WATER, (b)OIL
(TRANSPARENT) USING A PLANE MIRROR, AN EQUICONVEX
LENS, (MADE FROM A GLASS OF KNOWN REFRACTIVE
INDEX) AND AN ADJUSTABLE OBJECT NEEDLE”. The report is
the result of his efforts & endeavours. The report is found worthy of
acceptance as final project report for the subject Physics (042) laid
down in the regulation of CBSE for the purpose of Practical
Examination in Class XII to be held in DAV School, Biratnagar on
______________. He has prepared the project under my guidance.

(Dr. Upendra Mishra)

PGT (Physics)
Department of Physics
D.A.V- K.V.B. School,
Brt -13 Morang (Nepal)
j dd

Department of Physics
D.A.V- K.V.B. School, Biratnagar -13
Morang (Nepal)

CERTIFICATE

The Project report entitled

“TO FIND THE REFRACTIVE INDICES OF (a)WATER, (b)OIL
(TRANSPARENT) USING A PLANE MIRROR, AN EQUICONVEX
LENS, (MADE FROM A GLASS OF KNOWN REFRACTIVE
INDEX) AND AN ADJUSTABLE OBJECT NEEDLE”,
Submitted by KRISH KEDIA of Class XII (Sci) for
the CBSE Senior Secondary Examination class XII of
Physics (042) at D.A.V - K.V.B School, Biratnagar-13,
Morang (Nepal) has been examined.

SIGNATURE OF EXAMINER
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project work entitled

“TO FIND THE REFRACTIVE INDICES OF
(a)WATER, (b)OIL (TRANSPARENT) USING A
PLANE MIRROR, AN EQUICONVEX LENS, (MADE
FROM A GLASS OF KNOWN REFRACTIVE INDEX)
AND AN ADJUSTABLE OBJECT NEEDLE”,
Submitted to Department of Physics, D.A.V-K.V.B
School, Biratnagar-13, Morang (Nepal) is prepared
by me. All the coding are result of my efforts.

KRISH KEDIA
Class XII (Sci)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express a deep sense of thanks & gratitude to my

Project guide Dr. Upendra Mishra Sir for guiding me immensely through the
course of the project. He always evinced keen interest in my work. His
constructive advice & constant motivation have been responsible for the
successful completion of this project.

My sincere thanks goes to Shri R.K. Mishra, Our principal Sir for his
Co-ordination in extending every possible support for the completion of
this project.

I also thanks to my parents for their motivation & support. I must

thanks to my classmates for their timely help & support for compilation
of this project.

Last but not the least, I would like to thank all those who had
helped directly or indirectly towards the completion of this project.

KRISH KEDIA
Class XII (Sci)
 CONTENTS

 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 OBJECTIVE / AIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 APPARATUS / MATERIAL REQUIRED . . . . . . . . .

 DIAGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 THEORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 OBSERVATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 CALCULATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 RESULT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 SOURCE OF ERROR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 BILBIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 INTRODUCTION
A Library In optics, the refractive index or index of refraction n of a
material is a dimensionless number that describes how light
propagates through that medium. It is defined as

𝐶
𝑛=
𝑉

Where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the phase velocity

of light in the medium. For example, the refractive index of water is
1.333; meaning that light travels 1.333 times faster in a vacuum than
it does in water.
 OBJECTIVES / AIM

To find the refractive indexes of (a) water (b) oil using a

plane mirror, an equiconvex lens, and an adjustable
object needle.

APPARATUS

 Convex Lens
 Plane Mirror
 Water
 Oil
 Clamp Stand
 An Optical Needle
 Plumb Line
 Knitting Needle
 Half Meter Scale
 Glass Slab
 Spherometer
DIAGRAM
 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 𝑭𝒇𝟐
= + or f2 =
𝑭 𝒇𝟏 𝒇𝟐 𝒇𝟏−𝑭

2. Liquid lens formed a Plano-concave Lens with R1=R and R2=∞

then by using lens make’s formula

𝟏 𝟏𝟏 = (𝒏−𝟏)⌊ − ⌋

𝒇𝟐 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐

=(𝒏 − 𝟏) ⌊ 𝟏
− 𝟏⌋
𝑹𝟏 ∞

=(𝒏 − 𝟏) ⌊ 𝟏
− 𝟎⌋
𝑹
𝟏 𝒏−𝟏
=
𝒇𝟐 𝑹

n= 𝑹
+𝟏
𝒇𝟐
 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:

R = 𝒍𝟐 + 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:

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 means
distance will be equal to the focal length of the convex lens
(f1).

(b) For focal length of the combination.

1. 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.

2. Repeat the steps 3 and 4 to determine the equivalent focal

length of the combination.

3. Record the observation.

 4. Repeat the steps 5, 6, 7 for other transparent liquid (oil).

(c) For radius of curvature of convex lens surface:

1. Determine the pitch and the least count of the spherometer.

2. Remove the convex lens and dry it completely. Put the

spherometer on this lens surface.

3. 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.

4. Remove the spherometer from the surface of the lens and

place on the plane mirror surface and record the reading.

5. Repeat the steps 10 and 11 three times.

6. Obtain the impressions of the three legs of the spherometer on

a paper and mark them and their average distance.

l = 𝒍𝟏+ 𝒍𝟐+ 𝒍𝟑
𝟑

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

TABLE FOR CALCULATION OF ‘H’

S.N Initial No. of Final Additiona h=n Mean

o reading of complete reading l C.S x “h”
the C.S. on rotations of the c.s div. pitc (cm)
the convex on the moved h +
lens (n) glass mx
(a) slab L.C
1 62 0 6.5 55.5 0.55 0.5775
5
2 64 0 4 60 0.6

To measure focal length ‘f’ of convex lens

Distance of needle tip from

Area S.No Tip of the upper Upper Mean Focal
between surface of the surface 𝑥 Length
lens and convex lens(cm) of the x= 1+ (cm)
plane X1 plane 𝑥2
mirror mirror(cm) 2
X2
Without 1 30.5 31 30.75 f1=
liquid 33.85
2 36.7 37.2 36.95
With water 1 31.4 31.8 31.6 f2=34.
7
2 37.5 38.1 37.8
With oil 1 9.4 9.6 9.5 f3=10
2 10.4 10.6 10.5

CALCULATIONS

Mean distance between two legs

𝐴𝐵+𝐵𝐶+𝐶𝐴
 𝑙= = 3 cm
3

(0.555+0.6)
Mean of h = = 0.5775 cm
2

To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens:

𝑙2 ℎ
𝑅= + = 2.8861 𝑐𝑚
6ℎ 2

Measurement of refractive indices of water and oil

1) With water between the convex lens and the plane mirror:

𝑅
𝜇1 = 1 + =1+ = 1.0831
𝑓2

2) With oil between the convex lens and the plane Mirror

𝑅 2.
𝜇2 = 1 + 𝑓 3=1+ = 1.2886

RESULTS
The refractive index of water is µ1 = 1.0831
 The refractive index of oil is µ2 = 1.2886

P R E C A U T IO N S

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.

SOURCE OF ERROR

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.

Bibliography

Help From Internet

Help From Teachers
NCERT Textbook
NCERT Physics Lab Manual
www.google.com
www.wikipedia.com