CBSE Grade 12

Physics Project 2015

Refractive Indices
of
Some Common Liquids
By
SYED HUSAM
 Acknowledgment

• Firstly, I would like to extend my gratitude towards my

teacher, Mrs. Nisha Sasi, for helping and guiding me to
carry out my project successfully.
• Also, this project wouldn’t have been possible without
the efforts of my friends who helped me in conducting
this project.
• A special thanks to the Lab in-charge, Mr. John, and the
assistant, Mr. Sam, for constantly monitoring me and
ensuring my comfort and safety in the physics lab.
 Table of Contents
Sr. no. Topic Page no.
1. Abstract 5
2. Introduction 6
3. Objectives 9
4. Hypothesis 10
5. Apparatus & 11
Diagram
6. Theory 12
7. Procedure 14
8. Observations & 17
Calculations
9. Results & 20
Conclusion
10. Precautions & 22
Sources of Error
11. Recommendations 24
12. Bibliography 25
 Abstract
In this project, I conducted an experiment to find the
refractive indices of some common liquids. The liquids
which I used were water, oil and glycerol. This
experiment was done using a plane mirror and convex
lens. It is based on the principle of combination to form
liquid lens. It also consisted the use of a spherometer to
measure the radius of curvature of the convex lens. I
also compared the value of the respective refractive
indices of liquids with their viscosities to establish the
variation of the former with the latter. The obtained
observations and results were analyzed and a
conclusion was drawn.

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 Introduction
REFRACTIVE INDEX
• The refractive index n of a medium is a dimensionless
number that describes how light propagates through
that medium.
• It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in
vacuum (c=3x10^8 m/s) and the velocity v of light in
the medium.
• It determines how much light is bent, or refracted,
when entering a material.

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 SPHEROMETER
• A spherometer is an instrument used to measure
either very small thickness or the radius of
curvature of spherical surface.
• It works on the principle of a micrometer screw.
• It has a pitch of 1 mm and a least count of 0.01 mm.

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 VISCOSITY
• The property of a fluid by virtue of which an internal
frictional force acts between its different layers which
opposes their relative motion is called viscosity and the
force is called viscous force.
• It corresponds to the informal concept of "thickness". For
example, honey has a much higher viscosity than water.
• The viscosities of liquids considered in this experiment
are:-
1. Water 0.000894 Pa.s 0.894 mPa.s
2. Sunflower Oil 0.081 Pa.s 81 mPa.s
3. Glycerol 1.2 Pa.s 1200 mPa.s

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 Objectives
• #1: To find the refractive indices of water, oil and
glycerol using a plane mirror , equiconvex lens and
an adjustable object needle.
• #2: To compare the refractive indices of water, oil
and glycerol with their respective viscosities and
check how they vary with respect to each other.
• #3: To check the accuracy of the experiment in
finding the refractive index of a liquid.

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 Hypothesis

• Assumption #1: As the viscosity of liquids increases,

the refractive index also increases. That is, refractive
index and viscosity of liquids are directly proportional
to each other.
• Assumption #2: The accuracy of the experiment in
finding the refractive index of the liquids in not up to
the mark.

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 Apparatus
• Convex lens
• Plane mirror
• Water
• Sunflower oil
• Glycerol
• Clamp and stand
• Optical needle
• Plumb line
• Half meter scale
• Glass slab Focal length of glass convex lens and liquid lens combination

• Spherometer
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 Theory
• 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 f2 = ff1
f f1 f2 f - f1
• Liquid lens formed a plano-concave lens with R1 = R and
R2 = ∞, then by using lens maker's formula,
1 = (n-1)[ 1R1 - R12] n=R+1
f2 f2
* focal length of combination f includes fw, fo and fg | 12
• The radius of the lower surface of convex lens is given by,

where, l = average distance between legs of spherometer

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

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 Procedure
1. For focal length of convex lens (f1)
• Find rough focal length of convex lens.
• Place a plane mirror on the horizontal base of the iron stand and
then a convex lens on the plane mirror.
• Hold the needle in the clamp stand and adjust its position on
the stand such that there is no parallax between tip of needle
and its image.
• 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 mirror. Take
the mean of these two readings. This mean distance will be
equal to the focal length of the convex lens (f1).
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2. For focal length of combination (f)
• Put a few drops of the first liquid, i.e., water, on the plane
mirror and put the convex lens over it with its same face
above as before. The water spreads in the form of a layer and
acts like a plano-concave lens.
• Hold the needle in the clamp stand and adjust its position on
the stand such that there is no parallax between tip of needle
and its image.
• Measure distance between tip and upper surface of the
liquid lens using a plumb line and half meter scale. Also
measure the distance between tip of needle and upper
surface of mirror. Take the mean of these two readings. This
mean distance will be equal to the focal length of the
combination (fw).
• Record the observations.
• Repeat the steps for the other liquids, viz., oil (fo) and
glycerol (fg).
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For radius of curvature of convex lens surface
• Determine the pitch and least count of the spherometer.
• Remove the convex lens and dry it completely. Put the
spherometer on this lens surface.
• All the three legs of the spherometer should be placed
symmetrically on the lens and adjust the central screw tip to
just to touch the surface of the lens.
• Remove the spherometer from surface of lens and place on
the plane mirror and turn the central screw so that its tip
touch the plane mirror surface and record readings.
• Obtain the impressions of the three legs of spherometer on
a paper and mark them and their average distance
l = l 1 + l2 + l3
3
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 Observations
11 cm
• Rough focal length of convex lens = …..........
• Table for focal length of lens and combinations.
Distance of needle tip
from (cm)
Focal length
Arrangement From From
Mean f
lens plane
distance (cm)
surface mirror
(x)
(x1) (x2)
Without liquid 11 11.4 11.2 f1 = 11.2

With water 15.4 16 15.7 fw = 15.7

With oil 18.8 19.4 19.1 fo = 19.1

With glycerol 19.4 20 19.7 fg = 19.7

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• Table for spherometer h.
Initial No. of Final m=a-b h=[n x p]
C.S.R. on full C.S.R. on or +
Sr. no.
convex rotations plane 100+a-b [m x L.C]
lens (n) mirror
(a) (b) (in mm)

1. 52 1 15 37 h1 = 1.37
2. 73 1 24 49 h2 = 1.49
3. 74 1 27 49 h3 = 1.49

1.45 mm
Mean value of h = …...........
0.145 cm
= …...........
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 Calculations
3.3 cm
• l = l1 + l2 + l3 = …...........
3
• 12.59 cm
= ….............
• The focal lengths of combinations,
f2w = fwf1 39.08 cm
= …............
fw - f1
27.08 cm and f2g = ….............
Similarly, f2o = …............ 25.96 cm
• Refractive indices,
1.3222
nw = 1 + (R/f2w) = ….............
1.4649 and ng = …................
Similarly, no = …................ 1.4850
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 Results
Actual value Calculated value
of of
Liquid
refractive index refractive index

• Water 1.3333 1.3222

• Oil 1.4646 1.4649

• Glycerol 1.4750 1.4850

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 Conclusion
• By comparing the viscosities and refractive indices of
the three liquids, it is seen that they are directly
proportional to each other. Therefore, assumption #1
is correct.
• From the results, it can be said that the values of
calculated refractive indices of water, oil and glycerol
are very close to the actual values. Which means, the
experiment is much accurate in finding the refractive
indices of (transparent) liquids. Therefore,
assumption #2 is wrong.

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 Precautions Sources of Error
• The plane mirror should be clean • Liquid may not be quite
and shining. transparent.
• The liquids should be • The parallax may not be fully
transparent. removed.
• Tip to tip parallax should be • The spherometer legs should be
removed.
placed symmetrical on the
• The eye should be at a distance surface of convex lens.
30 cm from needle while
adjusting. • The tip of the central screw
• Only a few drops of liquid to be should just touch the surface of
taken. lens or mirror.
• The centre leg of spherometer • Legs of spherometer might not
should be turned in one be vertical.
direction only. | 22
 Pictures

Photographic evidence
of the conducted
experiment in the
School Physics Lab

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 Recommendations
• The provision of a bigger lens would make it easier to
take the spherometer readings as it cannot be placed
properly on the smaller lens.
• To compare the values of refractive indices with other
quantities and check their variation with each other
will give a more vast idea.
• It would be better if refractive index of non-
transparent liquids could be found by this experiment
as it is easy, quick and quite accurate.
• Other than this, there is no hesitation in getting
proper results unless one makes a human error!
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 Bibliography
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflower_oil
• CBSE Physics Lab Manual - Grade 11 and 12
• http://www.google.ae/imgres?imgurl=http://www.seminarsonly.com/Engineerin
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Projects/Physics/Refractive%252520Indices7.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.seminar
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Turpentine-
Oil.php&h=315&w=351&tbnid=hkOKcQiPsrW3CM:&zoom=1&docid=2kBUwDsC
MuKGYM&ei=L4aMVbHbE-Sf7gaZ15rYBQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CBsQMygAMAA
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Double-
Disc.aspx&h=688&w=559&tbnid=xbSgRBK9vUrLBM:&zoom=1&docid=mrSBHyqf_
bfNgM&ei=xIaMVZLYLKa17gbgvpxQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CCEQMygGMAY | 25