Topic: Refractive index of a liquid
Guided By: Mr. Sudheer Kumar Eeluri
Submitted By: Dwarampudi Sura Reddy
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that DWARAMPUDI SURA
REDDY of class 12, RAJAMAHENDRI
INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL has successfully completed the
project on the topic “Refractive Index of Liquid”
under guidance of MR. SUDHEER KUMAR
EELURI in session 2025-2026.
Internal examiner External examiner
PRINCIPAL
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank the CBSE, for providing me the
opportunity to carry out the investigatory project. I also
take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to my
chemistry teacher MR. SUDHEER KUMAR EELURI
for guiding me and improving a sound base of
knowledge pertaining to this project which ensures the
successful completion of this project.
I wish to express my great thank to my principal MR.
[Link] who helped me to
accomplish this project by providing me all necessary
facilities and support.
Aim
To find the refractive index of a liquid using a convex lens and
plane mirror.
Apparatus
Convex Lens
Plane Mirror
Optical Needle
The clean transparent liquid in a clean beaker
An iron stand with base and clamp arrangement
Plane glass slab
Plumb Line
Spherometer
Half metre scale
Theory
Let us consider f1 and f2 to be the focal length of the glass convex
lens and liquid lens respectively and let F be the focal length of
their combination, then
From the lens maker’s formula
We have,
Simplifying further, we get
Inserting values of f2, n can be calculated.
Diagram
Procedure
For the focal length of the convex lens,
Choose a convex lens and find its rough focal length.
Place the plane mirror on the horizontal base of the iron
stand
Place the convex lens on the plane mirror
Screw tight the optical needle in the clamp of the stand and
hold it horizontally above the lens at a distance equal to its
rough focal length.
Bring the tip of the needle to the principal vertical axis of
the lens so the tip of the needle appears to be touching the
tip of its image.
Move the needle up and down and remove the parallax
between the tips of the needle and its image.
Measure the distance between the tip and upper surface of
the lens using a plumb line and half metre scale.
Also, measure the distance between the tip and the surface
of its plane mirror.
For the Focal Length of the Combination
Take a few drops of transparent liquid on the plane mirror
and put a convex mirror over it.
Repeat 6, 7 and 8.
Record your observations.
For the radius of curvature of the convex lens surface
Observations
1. The rough focal length of convex lens = _____ cm
Arrangement The distance of Needle Tip Focal
Length
From lens From (cm) x (cm)
surface x1 (cm) plane
mirror
x2 (cm)
1 (2a) (2b) (2c) (3)
Without f1 =
Liquid _____
With Liquid F=
_____
The radius of curvature of the convex lens surface, R = _____ cm.
Calculations
Precautions
1. Only a few drops of liquid should be taken so as not to
thicken the layer.
2. The parallax should be removed tip to tip.
3. The liquid taken should be transparent.
Sources of Error
1. The liquid may not be quite transparent.
2. The parallax may not be fully removed.