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Acknowledgement

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have

supported and guided me throughout the completion of this project.
Firstly, I am thankful to my teacher, Mr. Sumanth Sharma Sir, for their
continuous guidance, support, and valuable suggestions that helped me in
designing and conducting the experiments. Their expertise in the field of
physics and encouragement at every step made this project possible.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to my classmates and friends who
provided useful inputs, and to the school staff who helped me with the
equipment and laboratory facilities.
Lastly, I am grateful to my family for their unwavering support and
encouragement, which motivated me to give my best to this project.
Thank you all for making this project a success!

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Declaration

I hereby declare that the work presented in this project titled "To find the refractive
index of water using a plane mirror and an equi-convex lens" is my original work.
The project has been completed under the guidance of Mr. Sumanth Sharma Sir,
and all the information, data, and results presented in this report are genuine to the
best of my knowledge.
This project has not been copied or reproduced from any source, and I have duly
referenced any external sources used.
I also declare that this work has not been submitted previously for any other
academic purpose.

A. Snohith Reddy
XII- PCM

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Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Refraction of a light ray...............................................................................................................................................6
EXPERIMENT.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Aim:........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Apparatus:............................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Theory.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Procedure:.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
For finding the focal length of convex lens:................................................................................................................10
For finding the focal length of the plano-concave lens:............................................................................................11
For finding radius of curvature of convex lens surface :.............................................................................................12
Observations:..................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Calculations:...................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Measurement of refractive indices of water.............................................................................................................................15
Results:................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Precautions:............................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Sources of error:............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Bibliography:......................................................................................................................................................................................... 16

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INTRODUCTION
In optics, the refractive index (or refraction index) of an
optical medium is a dimensionless number that gives the indication of
the light bending ability of that medium

Refraction of a light ray

The refractive index determines how much the path of light is bent, or
refracted, when entering a material. This is described by Snell's
law of refraction, n1sinθ1 = n2 sinθ2, where θ1 and θ2 are
the angle of incidence and angle of
refraction, respectively, of a ray crossing the interface between two
media with refractive indices n1 and n2 .

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The refractive indices also determine the amount of light that
is reflected when reaching the interface, as well as the
critical angle for total internal reflection. The refractive index, can be seen as
the factor by which the speed and the
wavelength of the radiation are reduced with respect to their vacuum
values.

The refractive index may vary with wavelength. This causes white light
to split into constituent colors when refracted. This is called
dispersion. This effect can be observed in prisms and rainbows, and as
chromatic aberration in lenses. The relative refractive index of an optical

medium 2 with respect to another reference medium 1 ( n21) is given by

the ratio of speed of light in medium 1 to that in
medium 2. This can be expressed as follows:
n12 = n1/n2
If the reference medium 1 is vacuum, then the refractive index of
medium 2 is considered with respect to vacuum. It is simply represented

as n2 and is called the absolute refractive index of

medium 2. The absolute refractive index n of an optical medium is
defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum, c

= 299792458 m/s, and the phase velocity v of light in the medium,

since c is constant, n is inversely proportional to v .

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

Apparatus:
A convex lens, an optical needle, a plane mirror, a clamp stand, a

spherometer, a plumb line, meter scale, water.

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.

When light rays from object put at focus of convex lens(f2) refract
through the lens and hit the plane mirror put nearer to conves lens, the
parallel beam reflects back , forming an image at the focus of convex
length. Hence, the height and size of the image formed are same when
object is put at focus f2.

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Now, a layer of water is made between the convex lens and plane
mirror. Therefore, the focus f1 of this setup is to be determined. Let f1
and f2 are the focal lengths of water lens and convex lens respectively,
then focal length of the combination(F) is:
1/F = 1/f1+1/f2

The focal of convex lens(f2) and total combination(F) can be found

experimentally, therefore, after solving equation(1),we get,

f1 =F* f2 /(f2 -F) …..eq(2)

We know that Lens maker’s formula is given by,

1/f=[(n2 /n1)-1][1/R1-1/ R2]

Therefore, lens maker’s formula , given that, F= f1; n2=nw=

refractive index of water; n1 = na=refractive index of air; R1=R=radius

of curvature of equi convex lens; R2= radius of curvature of planemirror

is:
1/ f1 =[(nw / na)-1][1/R - 1/ R2], i.e,
1/ f1 =[(nw /1)-1][1/R - 1/∞], i.e,
nw = 1+R/ f1 …..eq(3)

Substituting equation(2) in(3), we get,

nw =1+ R/[F* f2 /(f2 -F) ] …..eq(4)

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Procedure:

For finding the focal length of convex lens:

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

1. Place the convex lens on the lens holder.

2. Now face the lens towards a distant tree or building.

3. Obtain the image either on the white wall or on a screen and keep

moving the lens either forward or backwards till a sharp image is

formed.

4. To determine the rough focal length of the lens, measure the

distance between the lens and the screen.

(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.

• Bring the tip of the needle to the lens's principal vertical axis, so

that it seems to be touching the tip of its image.

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• Move the needle up and down to remove the parallax between
the needle's tips and its image(from either angle, needle’s tip and
that of image should coincide).

(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).

(vi) Repeat and record all the observations.

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.

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For finding radius of curvature of convex lens surface :

• 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 p

aper and adjust the central screw. Find the pri

cks A, B and C of the three legs of the spherom

eter. Join the centres of the three pricks. Measure

the lengths with the half-metre scale and note the

values of AB, BC and AC and find mean of

them(l).

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Observations:
Pitch of the spherometer=

Least count of the spherometer = Distance

between the legs:

(1) AB =

(2) BC =

(3) CA =

Therefore, mean(l) of AB,BC,CA=3.466cm

Formula to be used: R=l2/6h +(h/l)

TABLE FOR CALCULATION OF ‘h’

With Main Circula Least Final h

respect scale r Scale count Reading
to reading readin [MSR+
(MSR) g (CS
R*LC)]
Glass slab

Lens

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TO MEASURE FOCAL LENGTH fL OF CONVEX LENS
Distance of needle tip from
Area S.no Tip of the upper Upper Mean Focal
between surface of the surface of length(fL)
lens and convex lens(cm) the plane
plana mirror X=X2 +X1 /2
mirror (cm)
X1
X2
Without 1
liquid
2

With water 1

Calculations:

• Mean distance between two legs =

• h=
• To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens, R=

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Measurement of refractive indices of water
• With water between the convex lens and the plane

mirror =

Results:
• The refractive index of water is µw=

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.

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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.

Bibliography:
• www.wikipedia.com

• NCERT Physics manual

• NCERT Textbook

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