AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 2
Spring 2022 - 2023
Section: F , Group: 4

LAB REPORT ON
To determine the refractive index of the material of prism by a spectrometer

Supervised By

DR. MD. SAIFUL ISLAM

Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. ISLAM, MD. RAFI 22-49896-3 Theory & Overview
2.SARKER, JOY 22-49903-3 Apparatus , Procedure & Formatting
3.FAIZA MAHMOOD ARONI 22-48701-3 Experimental data & Submission
4.NOOR E FAHMIDA 20-44019-2 Calculations & Analysis
5.S.M KAFI KAIUM AL MONFE 20-43989-2 Discussion & Result

Date of Submission: March 29, 2023

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1

II. Table of Content 2

1. Theory 3
2. Apparatus 4

3. Procedure 5

4. Experimental Data 7

5. Analysis and Calculation 8

6. Result 8
7. Discussion 8
8. References 9
1. Theory
A prism with a prism angle A is to be considered. A ray of OP is to be allowed to strike the
first face of a prism, which passes through the prism’s primary plane, and emerges from the
other face in the direction QR. Let i1 and r1 be the incidence and refraction angles on the
prism's first face, and i2 & r2 be the corresponding variables on the prism's second face.

When the angles i1 = i2 and r1= r2, the position of minimum deviation is achieved as the
raypasses symmetrically through the prism.

We know the angle of prism, A = r1 + r2

In the position of minimum deviation,

A = 2r1
𝑨
Or, r1=
𝟐

Now, the deviation of the ray,

δ = (i1 – r1) + (i2-r2)
Or, δ = (i1 + i2) + (r1 + r2)
Or, δ = (i1 + i2) – A
 In the position of minimum deviation,
δ = δm
δm = 2i1-A
𝜹 +𝑨
Or, i1 = 𝒎
𝟐
From Snell’s Law, the refractive index,
𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒊𝟏
µ=
𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒓𝟏
𝜹𝒎 +𝑨 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1)
𝑺𝒊𝒏 𝟐
µ= 𝑨
𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐

2. Apparatus

o Spectrometer

o Sodium lamp

o Prism

o Stop watch

o Reading lens
 3. Experimental procedure
I. Adjustment of Telescope:

a) The spectrometer and the prism table were arranged in horizontal position and levelling
screws were used to tighten it.
b) A clear and sharp image was received as the telescope was turned towards a distant object.
c) The slit was illuminated by a sodium vapor lamp. The slit and the collimator were suitably
adjusted, such that, a narrow & vertical image of the slit was received.
d) The telescope was turned such that it received a direct ray which coincided with the vertical
crosswire.

Figure 2: Spectrometer

Measurement of angle of minimum deviation:

a) A prism was placed such that the center of the prism coincided with the centerof the prism table,
the incident ray fell on one of the polished faces and the refracted ray emerged out of the other
polished face. The telescope was turned such that the refracted image could be viewed on the
other face.
b) The Vernier table was slowly turned in a direction such that the image of the slit moved towards
the directed ray, i.e., it moved in the direction which the angle of deviation decreased.
c) The image was found to be stationary at a certain position. The Vernier table was fixed to that
position. The telescope and the fine adjusting slider were usedso that the slit coincided with the
cross wire.
d) The corresponding main scale and both the Vernier scales (Vernier I and Vernier II) readings
were noted.
e) The prism was carefully removed from the prism table. The telescope was turned parallel to the
collimator and the direct ray readings were noted.
f) The difference between the direct ray readings and the deviated readings were found, which was
the angle of minimum deviation, 𝜹𝒎 . The refractive index ofthe material of the prism was found
through use of equation 1.

Figure 3: Arrangement to determine angle of minimum deviation

4. Experimental Data

Observations:
i. Vernier Constant (VC)= 1 𝑚𝑚
60
ii. Wavelength of light used = 589 nm
iii. Angle of prism, A = 60∘

Table 1: Table for calculation of angle of minimum deviation.

Readings for minimum Readings for Direct

𝐬𝐢 𝑨
𝜹𝒎
Angle of Minimum dev., 𝜹𝒎 =

𝑺𝒊𝒏 +𝑨
𝐧𝟐
deviation position position

𝟐
Main Scale Readings(s)

Main Scale Readings(s)

No. of Observation

Vernier Scale Division

Vernier Scale Division

Vernier Number

Refractive Index, µ =
ReadingV= vd ×

ReadingV= vd ×

Mean 𝜹𝒎
M=S+

N=S+
Total

Total
Vernier Scale

Vernier Scale
V

V
VC

VC

M~N
1 47 10 0.16 47.16 88.5 5 0.08 88.58 41.4
2
I
2

3
1.548
41.46

1 227 5 0.08 227.0 268.5 5 0.08 268.58 41.5

8
II
2

3
 5. Analysis and Calculation

Therefore given prism is a flint prism with theoretical refractive index, µ= 1.548

Error percentage:

µ − µ𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑚𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙
Error % = | 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 × 100|
µ𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
1.548 − 1.5
=| × 100|
1.548
= 3.1%

6. Result
The refractive index of the given prism, µ=1.548. The error percentage is 3.1%.

7. Discussion
1. The experiment was conducted for determination of refractive index of a given prism .

2 . Through observation ofrefracted light rays through a prism.

3. And finding out the angle of minimum deviation through a spectrometer.

8. References
I. Fundamental of Physics: The Law of Refraction (Chapter 35, page 1048), Wavelength
and Indexof Refraction (Chapter 35, page 1050)
II. Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRch7irmLvo
III. Lab manual