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Spherometer Experiment for Radius Measurement

The document outlines an experiment using a spherometer to determine the radius of curvature of a spherical surface, specifically a watch glass. It details the apparatus required, the formula for calculating the radius, and a step-by-step procedure for conducting the experiment. Measurements include the mean distance between the spherometer's legs and the difference in readings when placed on convex and plane surfaces.

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sahooseema819
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40 views2 pages

Spherometer Experiment for Radius Measurement

The document outlines an experiment using a spherometer to determine the radius of curvature of a spherical surface, specifically a watch glass. It details the apparatus required, the formula for calculating the radius, and a step-by-step procedure for conducting the experiment. Measurements include the mean distance between the spherometer's legs and the difference in readings when placed on convex and plane surfaces.

Uploaded by

sahooseema819
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

Spherometer

Aim : To determine the radius of curvature of a given spherical surface of a watch glass
using spherometer.

Apparatus : Spherometer, Glass plate, Spherical surface.

Formula :

l2 h
R= +
h 2

Where l = The mean distance between the tip of the legs of the spherometer, i.e.

AB + BC + AC
l=
3

where h = Difference in the readings of spherometer when placed first on convex surface
and then on plane surface.

Procedure :

Press the spherometer gently on the practical notebook. Encircle the pricks of the three
legs & mark them A, B & C. Measure distance AB, BC & CA and the mean distance (l)
between the two legs of the spherometer.
Determine carefully the value of one small division on the linear scale. Find the pitch
and least and least count of the spherometer and record them stepwise.
Place the given convex mirror on the plane glass plate such that its convex surface is
upward.
Raise the central screw sufficiently & place it o the convex surface.
Turn the central screw gently downwards with the help of knob K till its tip just touches
the spherical surface. To ensure that the tip of the central. Screw has just touched the
surface of convex mirror, look at the image of the central screw. When the image of the
tip of the central screw and the tip of the central screw itself just touch each other, stop
rotating the screw. Remember that while doing this setting, the central screw must not
be rotated in the back direction to avoid backlash error.
Note the circular scale division (say, a) which coincides with the vertical linear scale.
This will act as a reference reading.
Remove the spherometer from the convex mirror and place it on the plane glass plate.
Turn gently the central screw downwards so that its tip now just touches the surfaces of
the plane glass plate.
While moving the screw downwards, count the no. of complete radiations (n) made by
the circular scale taking the initial reading 'a' as the reference point. Also, note the
circular division (say, b) coinciding with the vertical linear scale.
Repeat the step (4) to (8) at least three time by
placing the spherometer at there different position
on the convex mirror and then on the plane glass
plate.
i. AB = ____ in cm
ii. BC = in cm
iii. CA = in cm

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