Physics
Investigatory
Project
Done By: Gautam Sunil
Grade : XII-A
Index
CERTIFICATE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AIM
APPARATUS
THEORY
FORMULA USED
DIAGRAMS
PROCEDURE
OBSERVATIONS
CALCULATIONS
RESULTS
PRECAUTIONS
SOURCES OF ERRORS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Certificate
This is to certify that this project titled
”___________________________________________________
________________________________” is the bonafide
work of ________________ of Grade XII studying in
Vel International Public School, Coimbatore
during the academic year 2025-2026.
Signature of the Internal Examiner:
Signature of the Principal:
Submitted for All – India Senior Secondary
School Practical Examination held on
__________________ at Vel International Public
School, Coimbatore.
Date:
School Seal:
Signature of the External Examiner:
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to
all these individuals for mentoring and
supporting me in completing this project
_____________________________________________________.
Our esteemed Principal [Link] S, for
fostering an environment of learning and
creativity within our school.
My teacher [Link], for providing me with
invaluable insights and direction.
To my parents, their constant encouragement,
patience, and understanding have been the
pillars of my success.
I am grateful to my friends who contributed
ideas and perspectives that enriched the
project.
Thank you everyone for shaping this project and
enhancing my learning experience.
Aim
To find the refractive indexes of (a)
water (b) oil using a plane mirror, an
Equi-convex lens, and an adjustable
object needle.
Apparatus
Convex Lens
Plane Mirror
Water
Oil
Clamp Stand
An Optical Needle
Plumb Line
Knitting Needle
Half Meter Scale
Glass Slab
Spherometer
Theory
When a convex lens is placed
over a plane mirror and
submerged in a liquid, the
effective focal length of the
system changes depending on
the refractive index of the
surrounding medium. By
adjusting the object needle until
a sharp image is seen, and using
known values, the refractive
index can be calculated. The
spherometer helps measure the
radius of curvature (R) of the
lens.
Formula used:
Focal length in air, f
Focal length in liquid, f′
Refractive index, f/f′
Radius of curvature,
R=l²/6h+h/2, where:
l: distance between
legs of spherometer
h: height of central
screw from base
Diagrams
Figure 1: Focal length of glass convex
lens and liquid lens combination
Figure 2: Spherometer
Procedure
a) For focal length of convex lens:
1. Find the rough focal length of the convex
lens.
2. Place a plane mirror on the horizontal
base of the iron stand and then a convex
lens on the plane mirror.
3. Hold the needle in the clamp stand and
adjust its position on the stand such that
there is no parallax between tip of the
needle and its image.
4. 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 the mirror. Take the mean of the
two readings. This means distance will be
equal to the focal length of the convex lens
(f1).
b) For focal length of the combination.
5. Put a few drops of the water on the
plane mirror and put the convex lens over
it with its same face above as before. The
water spreads in a form of layer and acts
like a Plano-concave lens.
6. Repeat the steps 3 and 4 to determine
the equivalent focal length of the
combination.
7. Record the observation.
8. Repeat the steps 5, 6, 7 for other
transparent liquid (oil).
c) For radius of curvature of convex lens
surface:
9. Determine the pitch and the least count
of the spherometer.
10. Remove the convex lens and dry it
completely. Put the spherometer on this
lens surface.
11. All the three legs of the spherometer
should be placed symmetrically on the lens
and adjust the central screw tip to touch the
surface of the lens.
12. Remove the spherometer from the surface
of the lens and place on the plane mirror
surface and record the reading.
13. Repeat the steps 10 and 11 three times.
14. Obtain the impressions of the three legs of
the spherometer on a paper and mark them
and their average distance.
Observations
Pitch of the spherometer= 1 cm
Least count of the spherometer = 0.01 cm
Distance between the legs:
1. AB = 3 cm
2. BC = 3 cm
3. CA = 3 cm
Table for calculation of ‘h’
To measure focal length ‘f’
of convex lens
Calculations
Mean distance between two legs:
l=(AB+BC+CA)/3 = 3 cm
Mean of h = (0.555+0.6)/ 2 = 0.5775 cm
To find the radius of curvature of the
convex lens:
R=l²/6h+h/2=2.8861 cm
Measurement of refractive indices of water
and oil
[Link] water between the convex lens and
the plane mirror:
µ1=1+R/f2= 1+2.8861/34.7=1.0831
2. With oil between the convex lens and
the plane Mirror:
µ2=1+R/f3= 1+2.8861/10=1.2886
Calculations
Results
The
Mean refractive
distance indextwo
between of water
legs is µ1 =
1.0831
l=(AB+BC+CA)/3 = 3 cm
Mean of refractive
The h = (0.555+0.6)/
index2of
= 0.5775 cm=
oil is µ2
1.2886
To find the radius of curvature of the
convex lens:
R=l²/6h+h/2=2.8861 cm
Precautions
Measurement of refractive indices of water
and oil plane mirror should be clean and
[Link]
fully shining surface.
[Link] water between the convex lens and
[Link] liquid taken should be
the plane mirror:
transparent.
[Link] parallax should be removed tip to
tip.
1=1+Rf2= 1+2.886134.7=1.0831
[Link] eye should be at a distance about
30 cm
2) With oilfrom the the
between needle while
convex lens and
the removing the parallax.
plane Mirror
[Link] few drops of liquid should be
taken so 2=1+Rf3=
that its layer should be thick.
1+2.886110=1.2886
Calculations
Sources of Error
Mean distance between two legs
l=(AB+BC+CA)/3
1. Liquid may not be= 3quite
cm
transparent.
Mean of h = (0.555+0.6)/ 2 = 0.5775 cm
2. The parallax may not be fully
removed.
To find the radius of curvature of the
3. The lens:
convex spherometer legs should be
placed symmetrical
R=l²/6h+h/2=2.8861 cm on the surface
of the convex lens.
Measurement
4. The tip of of
therefractive
centralindices
screwof water
should
and oil
not just touch the surface of lens or
mirror.
[Link] water between the convex lens and
the plane mirror:
Bibliography
1=1+Rf2= 1+2.886134.7=1.0831
NCERT Textbook
2) [Link]
With oil between the convex lens and
[Link]
plane Mirror
[Link]
2=1+Rf3= 1+2.886110=1.2886