PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
Class XII
Submitted by-AKSHAY KUMAR SINGH

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1
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Primarily I would thank god for being able to complete this project
with success. Then I would like to thank my physics teacher Mr.
Anand Ranjan whose valuable guidance has been the ones that
helped me patch this project and make it full proof success his
suggestions and instructions has served as the major contributor
towards the completion of the project.
Then I would like to thank my parents and friends who have
helped me with their valuable suggestions and guidance has been
helpful in various phases of the completion of this project.

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CERTIFICATE
This to certify that the PHYSICS project titled “ Refractive Index
of Different Medium” has been successfully completed by Akshay
Kumar Singh of Class XII, KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA, Kimin in
the partial fulfillment by the Central Board of Secondary
Education (CBSE) leading to the award of the annual examination
of the year 2022-23.

Internal Examiner External Examiner

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 INDEX
Certificate
Acknwoledgement
Introduction
Objective
Apparatus Required
Diagram
Procedure
Observation
Calculation
Results

1
 INTRODUCTION
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
n=c/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 does it in water.

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 Aim:
To find refractive indices of water and turpentine
oil using a plane mirror, a equiconvex lens
(made from a glass of known refractive index)
and an adjustable object needle.

Apparatus:
1
 ❖ A convex lens,
❖ An optical needle,
❖ A plane mirror,
❖ A clamp stand,
❖ A spherometer,
❖ A plumb line,
❖ Metre scale,
❖ Water
❖ Turpentine oil.

Theory:
Let’s add small amount of water on a flat, plane surface and place a convex lens
over it. This forms a plano-concave lens of water between the lower surface of
convex lens and plane mirror.
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Let f1 and f2 are the focal lengths of water lens and convex lens respectively,
then focal length of the combination is:
1 1 1
= +
𝐹 𝑓1 𝑓2
1 1 1
The focal length of the plano-concave lens is, 𝑓1 = 𝐹 − 𝑓2 …(i)

1
From Lens Maker’s formula, = (𝜇 − 1) ( 1 − 1 )
𝑓1 𝑅1 𝑅2

1
=(𝜇 − 1) 𝑅

∴ R1 = R and R2 = ∞ for water lens …(ii)

∴ The refractive index of water is , 𝜇 = 1 + 𝑅

𝑓1

(where ‘R’ is the radius of curvature of the concave surfaces of the

plano-concave lens).
𝑙2 ℎ
The Radius of curvature of the lens, is 𝑅 =
6ℎ
+ 2 …(iii)

Procedure:
I. For finding the focal length of convex lens:

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(i) Measure the rough focal length of the convex lens.

(ii) Place the plane mirror with the convex lens

placed on it above the horizontal base of a clamp
stand horizontally as its tip lies vertically above
the optical centre of the lens. Adjust the needle at
a height a little more than the rough focal length
of the convex lens.

(iii) Try to remove the parallax between the tip of the

object needle and its image tip.

(iv) Note the distance of the tip of the needle from

the centre of the upper surface of the lens. Let it
be x1. (Use plumb line).

(v) Remove the convex lens and measure the distance

of the tip of the needle from the plane mirror. Let
it be x2. (Use plumb line).

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 (vi) Repeat and record all the observations.

II. For finding the focal length of the plano-

concave lens:

Pour few drops of water over the plane mirror and place
the convex lens over it. Repeat steps (ii) to (iv) as done
above.
Repeat the procedure with turpentine oil also.
III. For finding ‘l’:

Determine the pitch and least count of scale of the

spherometer. Place the spherometer on the dried
surface of the convex lens. Turn the screw
downwards very gently till the tip of the screw just
touches the lens. Read and record the reading.

Keep the spherometer’s legs on the base of a paper and

adjusting the central screw, find the pricks A, B and C
of the three legs of the spherometer. Join the centres of
the three pricks and measure the lengths with the half-
metre scale.
Note the values of AB, BC and AC.
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Fig: (a) to find focal length of convex lens

(b) for the length of legs AB, BC, CA of the

spherometer

Fig: to find focal length of the plano concave lens

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 Observations
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.No Initial No. of Final Additional h=n x Mean

reading of complete reading of C.S div. pitch “h”
the C.S. on rotations the c.s on moved +mx
the convex the L.C
lens (n) glass slab
(a)
1 62 0 6.5 55.5 0.555 0.5775
2 64 0 4 60 0.6

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 To measure focal length f ‘ of convex
lens

Distance of needle tip from

Area between S.No Tip of the upper Upper Mean Focal
𝑥1+ 𝑥2
lens and surface of the convex surface of x= length
plane mirror lens the plane 2

X1 mirror
X2
Without 1 30.5 31 30.75 f1=
liquid 2 36.7 37.2 36.95 33.85
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

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 CALCULATIONS

Mean distance between two legs

𝐴𝐵+𝐵𝐶+𝐶𝐴
𝑙= =3 cm
3

Mean h = 0.7557 cm

To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens:

2
𝑅= 𝑙 + ℎ = 2.27366 cm
6ℎ 2

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Measurement of refractive indices of water and turpentine oil

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

𝑅 2.27366
𝜇1 = 1 + = 1+ = 1.06552
𝑓2 34.7

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

mirror

𝜇2 = 1 + 𝑅 = 1 + 2.27366 = 1.22736
𝑓3 10

Result
The refractive index of water is µ1 = 1.06552

The refractive index of turpentine oil is µ2 = 1.22736

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 Precautions

(i) The screw of the spherometer should be moved in one

direction only to avoid backlash error.

(ii) The screw should be moved just to touch the surface of the
convex lens or the glass slab.

(iii) The parallax should be removed properly.

(iv) The lens and the plane mirror should be properly cleaned.

(v) The convex lens of large focal length should be used.

(vi) The spherometer reading should be taken first on the

surface of the convex lens and then on the glass slab.

Sources of error:

(i) The distances x1 and x2 may not be measured correctly.

(ii) The value of h and l may not be correct.

(iii) Parallax may not be removed properly.

(iv) Backlash error may be acting on the spherometer.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
• iCBSE.com
• Wikipedia
• Chemmicalland.com
• Books.google.co.in
• Physics NCERT Class 12 Book