INDEX
SL. No Contents Page No.
1. Introduction 3
2. Aim 5
3. Apparatus 6
4. Theory 7
5. Procedure 9
6. Diagrams
7. Observation 12
8. Results 13
9. Precautions 14
10. Bibliography
1|Page
INTRODUCTION
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished
surfaces that refract light. The exact angles between the surfaces
depend on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that
of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides.
Prisms can be made from any material that is transparent to the
wavelengths for which they are designed. Typical materials include
glass, plastic and fluorite. A prism can be used to break light up into
its constituent spectral colours (the colour of the rainbow). Prisms
can also be used to reflect light or to split light into components
with different polarizations. Prisms can also be used to reflect light
and behave as a mirror. In this project, we discuss how prisms can
help us learn about the refractive properties of light, in different
media and how we can infer these properties from the behaviour of
light through a prism.
2|Page
AIM
To investigate the dependence of the angle of deviation
on the angle of incidence using a hollow prism filled, one
by one, with different transparent fluids.
APPARATUS
1) A hollow prism of angle ‘A’ = 60o (One base side open, can be
filled with any transparent liquid.
2) Drawing sheet or Board
3) Board pins or needles (To play the role of object and for
markings for the project).
4) A4 size papers
5) Pencil or pen
6) Protractor
7) Three different transparent liquids (e.g., kerosene, glycerin and
coconut oil)
3|Page
THEORY
Light changes speed as it moves from one medium to another (for
example, from air into the glass of the prism). This speed change
causes the light to be refracted and to enter the new medium at a
different angle (Huygens principle). The degree of bending of the
light's path depends on the angle that the incident beam of light
makes with the surface and on the ratio between the refractive
indices of the two media (Snell's law).
Using the geometry of the prism and Snell's law, the relationship
between the angle of deviation (D) and the angle of incidence (i) is
derived:
1. The deviation angle (D) is given by:
D = i + e −A, where ‘e’ is the angle of emergence
and ‘A’ is the angle of the prism
2. For minimum deviation (Dm):
• i = e.
• The prism equation is:
where ‘n’ is the refractive index of the prism.
• The angle of deviation is minimum when the light ray
passes symmetrically through the prism.
• At this point, the angle of incidence equals the angle of
emergence.
4|Page
Refraction: The phenomenon of bending of light from its straight-
line path on the surface of separation of two optical media is known
as refraction of lights.
Refractive Index: It is defined as the ratio of the velocity of light in
a vacuum to that in any medium.
Angle of Incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the
normal.
Angle of Deviation: The angle between the incident ray and the
emergent ray.
Minimum angle of Deviation: The angle of incidence where the
angle of deviation in a prism is minimum is called the minimum
deviation.
Dispersion: The phenomena of splitting of white light into its
constituents colors when light ray passes through a prism.
5|Page
PROCEDURE
1. The sheet of paper was fixed on the drawing board with the
drawing pins.
2. The prism of angle 60o filled with liquids is placed on the paper
and its boundary ABC was traced.
3. Point O was marked on one of the refracting surfaces, and a
normal was drawn to the surface at that point.
4. A straight line PQ was drawn corresponding to the incident ray
drawn at a suitable angle with the normal Q was drawn
corresponding to the incident ray drawn at a suitable angle with the
normal.
5. Two points P and Q was fixed about 5 cm apart on the incident
ray and its image was viewed with one eye closed from that side
AC of the prism. Two pina R and S was fixed such that the tips of
these pins and the tips of image of the incident ray pin P, Q lied in
the same straight line.
6. The pinpricks on the paper were encircled.
[Link] pins P and Q were removed and also encircle their pinpricks.
6|Page
8. Points S and R was joined and produced backward to meet the
incident ray PQ produced. Thus RS is the emergent ray
corresponding to the incident ray PQ. Arrowheads were drawn to
show the direction of the rays. The angle of deviation and prism
were measured with the help of a protector.
9. The above steps were repeated for different angles of incidence
for each transparent fluid that was filled in the hollow prism.
7|Page
DIAGRAMS
Hollow Prism
Experiment Setup & diagrams
8|Page
OBSERVATIONS
GLYCERINE
[Link] Angle of Incidence Angle of Deviation
1. 30o 37o
2. 35o 36o
3. 40o 35o
4. 45o 34o
Angle of the prism, A = 60o
Angle of minimum deviation, Dm = 34o
Refractive index of a medium,
Refractive index of glycerine, n1 = sin ((60o+34o)/2) / sin 30o
9|Page
KEROSENE
[Link] Angle of Incidence Angle of Deviation
1. 30o 37o
2. 35o 36o
3. 40o 35o
4. 45o 34o
Angle of the prism, A = 60o
Angle of minimum deviation, Dm = 34o
Refractive index of a medium,
Refractive index of kerosene, n2 = sin ((60o+34o)/2) / sin 30o
10 | P a g e
COCONUT OIL
[Link] Angle of Incidence Angle of Deviation
1. 30o 34o
2. 37o 30o
3. 40o 34o
4. 45o 37o
Angle of the prism, A = 60o
Angle of minimum deviation, Dm = 30o
Refractive index of a medium,
Refractive index of coconut oil, n3 = sin ((60o+30o)/2) / sin 30o
11 | P a g e
RESULT
Coconut oil has the lowest refractive index value
while glycerin and kerosene have comparable values.
The angle of deviation first decreases with an increase
in angle of incidence, attains a minimum value and
then increases with further increase in angle of
incidence.
12 | P a g e
PRECAUTIONS
1) Angle of incidence should lie b/w 35-60 degrees.
2) Pins should be vertically fixed and should lie in the same line.
3) The distance b/w two points should not be less than 10mm.
4) The same angle of prism should be used for all observations
5) Arrowhead should be marked to represent emergent and
incident ray
13 | P a g e
BIBLIOGRAPHY
[Link]
prism%20-physics-investigatory-project-cl
[Link]
%20refractive%20index%20of%20water%20is%20obtained
%20%20from%20the%[Link]%20633%20nm%
3B%20%201.331%2058.
[Link]
ON-REFRACTIVE-INDEX-OF-DIFFERENT-LIQUIDS
14 | P a g e
15 | P a g e
16 | P a g e
17 | P a g e
18 | P a g e
19 | P a g e
20 | P a g e