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Physics Investigatory Project

This document outlines an experiment to determine the angle of minimum deviation of a glass prism. The experiment involves measuring the angle of deviation for different angles of incidence using a prism, drawing paper, and other materials. Observations are recorded and plotted on a graph of angle of incidence versus angle of deviation. From the graph, the angle of minimum deviation is determined to be 38 degrees, and the refractive index of the prism material is calculated to be 1.5. Precautions for accurate measurements and potential sources of error are also discussed.

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Medhansh Garg
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62 views

Physics Investigatory Project

This document outlines an experiment to determine the angle of minimum deviation of a glass prism. The experiment involves measuring the angle of deviation for different angles of incidence using a prism, drawing paper, and other materials. Observations are recorded and plotted on a graph of angle of incidence versus angle of deviation. From the graph, the angle of minimum deviation is determined to be 38 degrees, and the refractive index of the prism material is calculated to be 1.5. Precautions for accurate measurements and potential sources of error are also discussed.

Uploaded by

Medhansh Garg
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics Investigatory Project

To find the Angle of Minimum


Deviation of a Glass Prism
Class: XII L
Name: Vedika Goyal

Team: Medhansh Garg, Aadithnatarajan Mahendran, Vedika Goyal,


Abhijeet Beedikar, Saharsh Patnaik
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my


physics teacher ____________ for his vital support,
guidance and encouragement without which this project
would not have come forth.
I would also like to thank Ms. Manila Carvalho, our
esteemed Principal, for her continued support and
providing the facilities required to execute this project.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my parents for
their undivided support and interest which always
inspires me.
INDEX

1. Aim
2. Materials Required
3. Diagram
4. Theory
5. Picture
6. Procedure
7. Observations
8. Calculations
9. Graph
10. Result
11. Precautions
12. Sources of error
13. Bibliography
Aim

To determine Angle of minimum deviation for a


given Prism by plotting a graph between Angle of
incidence and the Angle of deviation
Apparatus/Material Required

1. A Drawing board
2. A Prism
3. A white sheet of paper
4. Drawing pins
5. A Pencil
6. A half-meter scale
7. Graph Paper
8. Office pins
9. A Protractor
Diagram
Theory

Angle of Prism – The angle between the two refractive


surfaces is called angle of prism.
Angle of Deviation – The angle through which a ray of light
turns away from its original path on passing through a prism,
is called angle of deviation.
Angle of minimum Deviation – The least value of angle of
deviation is known as angle of minimum deviation.

The refractive index (n) of the material of the prism is given


by:

(𝐴+𝐷𝑚)
𝑠𝑖𝑛[ 2
]
𝑛 = 𝐴
𝑠𝑖𝑛( 2
)

where A is angle of the prism and Dm is the minimum


deviation
PICTURE
Procedure
1. Take & place the white sheet of paper and fix it on the drawing
board with the help of drawing pins.

2. Draw a straight line XX’ parallel to the length of the paper


nearly in the middle of the paper.

3. Mark the three points Q1, Q2 and Q3 at suitable distances on the


straight line XX’.

4. Draw normals N1Q1, N2Q2, N3Q3 on these three points Q1,


Q2, Q3 as shown in the ray diagram.

5. Draw straight lines R1Q1, R2Q2, R3Q3 making angles of 35°,


40°, 45° and so on, with the normal drawn at each of these
points.

6. Measure the prism angle A with the help of a protractor and note
it.

7. Mark one corner of the prism as A and take it as the edge of the
prism for all the observations.

8. Put the prism with its refracting face AB in the line XX’ and
point Q1 in the middle of AB, then mark the boundary of the
prism.

9. Fix two or more office pins P1 and P2 vertically on the line


R1Q1 making angle 35° with the normal. The distance between
the pins should be 10 mm or more.
10. Look at the images of points P1 and P2 through face AC and
close your left eye and bring the right eye in line with the two
images.

11. Fix two office pins P3 and P4 vertically and 10 cm apart such
that the open right eye sees pins P4 and P3 and images of P2 and
P1 in one straight line.

12. Now remove pins P3 and P4 and encircle their pricks on the
paper.

13. Repeat the same steps of procedures 8 to 12 with points Q2


and Q3 for i = 40° and 60° respectively.

To Measure D in Different Cases:


1. Draw straight lines through points P4 and P3 (pin pricks)
to obtain emergent rays T1, S2T2, S3T3 and so on.
2. Then produce T1S1, T2S2, T3S3 inward in the boundary
of the prism to meet produced incident rays R1Q1, R2Q2,
R3Q3 at points F1, F2, and F3.
3. Now measure angles K1F1S1, K2F2S2 and K3F3S3
which gives the angle of deviation D1,D2 and D3 then
note the values of these angles on the paper.

To Measure A:
1. Measure angle BAC in the boundary of the prism, this
gives angle A.
2. Record your observations.
Observations
Angle of prism ‘A’ = 60°

Calculations
Plot a graph between the angle of incidence ∠i and the angle
of deviation ∠D by taking ∠i along the X-axis and ∠D
along the Y-axis. From this graph, calculate the value of the
single minimum deviation Dm corresponding to the lowest
point of the graph.

From the graph, the value of the angle of minimum deviation


= 38°
Then,
(𝐴+𝐷𝑚) (60+38)
𝑠𝑖𝑛[ ] 𝑠𝑖𝑛[ ]
𝑛 = 2
𝐴 = 2
60 ~ 1.5
𝑠𝑖𝑛( 2
) 𝑠𝑖𝑛[ 2 ]

So, n = 1.5°.
Graph

Result
1. The Angle of minimum Deviation, Dm = 38°.
2. Refractive index of the material of the prism, n = 1.5°.
3. Graph indicates that as the angle of incidence (∠i)
increases, the angle of deviation (∠D) first decreases
and attains a minimum value and then starts increasing
for further increase in the angle of incidence.
Precautions
1. A sharp pencil should be used to draw the boundary of the
prism.
2. The angle of incidence should lie between 35° to 60°.
3. The placement of the office pins should be vertical.
4. The distance between office pins should be at least 10mm.
5. A proper arrowhead should be drawn to indicate the incidence,
refracted and the emergent ray.
6. The angle of the prism used should be the same for all the
observations.

Sources of Error
1. Pinpricks may be thick.
2. The measurement of angles may be wrong.
3. Using different angles of prism for all observations.

Bibliography
1. https://www.boardsolution.in/determine-angle-of-minimum-devi
ation-for-given-prism-by-plotting-graph/
2. https://ncert.nic.in/science-laboratory-manual.php
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_deviation#:~:text=This
%20angle%20of%20incidence%20where,material%20with%20r
efractive%20index%20%3E%201.

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