NEWTONS RINGS
EXPT NO.
AIM: To determine the wavelength of light by Newton’s Ring method.
WORKING PRINCIPLE:
When a parallel beam of monochromatic light of wavelength λ is made incident normally on the wedge-shaped film of air enclosed
between a glass plate G and the convex surface of a plano-convex lens L of long focal length, then alternate bright and dark
concentric rings, having darkness at the common center are observed.
The wavelength λ of the incident monochromatic light is given by:
D Dn
2 2
m Where Dm and Dn are the diameters of
4R(m n) mth and nth dark rings. R the radius
of curvature of the convex surface of
the plano convex lens.
Plotting D2 along y-axis and order number along x-axis a straight line is obtained and taking slope from graph, we can calculate
λ in Å.
APPARATUS USED:
Newton’s Ring apparatus consists of a Plano convex lens L whose convex surface (having large radius of
curvature) is placed in contact with a plane glass plate G. This lens- plate combination is enclosed in a cylindrical
case.
A plane parallel glass plate P is kept above the top of the case by making an angle of 45 0 with the vertical.
A monochromatic source (sodium lamp).
Low power microscope objective.
Magnifying glass
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Table 1: Data for least count of the micrometer screw of the microscope
Value of one main scale division (cm)
Pitch (cm)
No. of circular scale division (n)
Least count (L.C.) = pitch/ n (cm)
Table 2: Data for ring number and the corresponding diameter for Newton’s rings
Microscope movement: Left to Right
Microscope Reading
No. Of Rings (m)
Left(x) Right(y)
D = (x-y) D2
M.S.R C.S.R TOTAL M.S.R C.S.R. TOTAL (cm) (cm2)
( cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
Table 3:Consolidated table for estimation of unknown wavelength of monochromatic source
D2 Change in order Slope from graph Radius of curvature Unknown wavelength
from graph number m from (cm2) R in cm (given) λ in Å
(cm2)
graph D 2 D 2
m 4Rm
GRAPH:
PERCENTAGE ERROR:
2D
D = 0.001 cm
(D m D n )
Dm & Dn are two consecutive highest values of diameters
Percentage error = 100%
PRECAUTION:
1. Since the first few rings are indistinct, it is very difficult to ascertain the exact ring number of the first clearest ring.
2. In this arrangement, the rings(which are formed in the air-film lying in the space between the lens and the glass plate) are
seen after refraction through the lens and the error due to this is very small if the lens employed is thin.
3. When the rings are visible in the microscope, it may sometimes be necessary to shift the lens to and fro and across to get
bright and clear bands.
4. The central indistinct rings should be avoided while taking readings.
PROCEDURE:
1. Try to locate the central dark ring.
2. Count the central dark fringe as 0 and move to left by counting each dark fringe and reach next to the given number (say,
21 is the given number, then reach 22).
3. Now, while moving back from left side towards center, take the readings keeping the crosswire on some particular fringes.
Remember to manage backlash error by maintaining left to right movement.
4. While moving from left to right take readings keeping the crosswire on both the left and right side of the same circle.
5. Calculate the diameters from the formula.
6. Plot a graph taking (diameter) 2 along y-axis and order number along x-axis.
D2
m