PHYSICS PROJECT
Topic: To find the refractive indices
of water and oil
Name: Rishika Singhal
Class: XII CBSE
Roll No:
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that RISHIKA SINGHAL of standard
XII has completed the physics project in partial
fulfilment of the curriculum of
ALL INDIA SENIOR SECONDARY CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATION (AISSCE)
The project was carried out at Narayana E-Techno
School and Junior College, Bhayandar West
laboratory during the academic year 2025-2026.
Internal Examiner External Examiner
School Stamp Principal Signature
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the
principal, Mrs. Supriti Kakkar, for providing us
with the infrastructure to carry out the project.
I would further like to extend my thanks to my
physics teacher, Ms. Sukanya TS, whose guidance
helped me to achieve completion of this project.
Last but not the least, I want to thank my family
for their moral support.
INDEX
●INTRODUCTION
●OBJECTIVE / AIM
●APPARATUS / MATERIAL REQUIRED
●DIAGRAM
●THEORY
●PROCEDURE
●OBSERVATIONS
●CALCULATIONS
●RESULTS
●PRECAUTIONS
●SOURCES OF ERRORS
●BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION
In optics, the refractive index or index of refraction n of a material is
a dimensionless number that describes how light propagates through
that medium. It is defined as
C
n=
V
Where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the phase velocity of
light in the medium. For example, the refractive index of water is 1.333;
meaning that light travels 1.333 times faster in a vacuum than it does in
water.
AIM
To find the refractive indexes of (a) water
(b) oil using a plane mirror, an equiconvex 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
DIAGRAMS
THEORY
1. If f1 and f2 be the focal length of the glass convex
lens and liquid lens and f be the focal length of
their combination then:
1 1 Ff2
or f2 =
1 +
F =f 1 f 2 f 1−F
2. Liquid lens formed a Plano-concave Lens with
R1=R and R2= then by using lens maker’s
formula
1 1 1
=( n−1 ) ⌊ − ⌋
f2 R 1 R2
=
1 1
( n−1 ) ⌊ − ⌋
R1 ∞
= (n-1)⌊ R −0 ⌋
1
=
n−1
R
n=
R
+1
f2
Where n = Refractive index of the liquid
R = the radius of the curvature of the
convex lens.
3. The radius of the lower surface of the convex
lens is given by:
R=
2
l h
+
6h 2
Here, l is the average distance between the legs of
the spherometer and h is the difference in the
reading of the spherometer when placed first on
the convex lens and then on the plane mirror.
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 the 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 the tip of the
needle and the 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 it 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.
l=
l 1+l 2 +l 3
3
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’
S.n Initial No. of Final Additional h= Mean
reading of complete reading C.S div. “h”
o nxpitch
the C.S. on rotations of the moved + (cm)
the convex c.s on mxL.C
lens the glass
slab
(a)
(n)
1 62 0 6.5 55.5 0.555
2 64 0 4 60 0.6 0.577
5
To measure focal length ‘f’ of convex lens:
Distance of needle tip from
Area S.N Tip of the Upper Mea Focal
o
between upper surface surface of n
Lengt
lens and of the convex the plane x= h
x1 + x 2
plane lens(cm) mirror(cm 2 (cm)
mirror )
X1
X2
Without 1 30.5 31 30.75 f1=
liquid 2 36.7 37.2 36.95 33.85
With 1 31.4 31.8 31.6 f2=34.
water 2 37.5 38.1 37.8 7
With oil 1 9.4 9.6 9.5 f3=10
2 10.4 10.6 10.5
CALCULATIONS
Mean distance between two legs
l=
AB+ BC+ CA
3
= 3 cm
( 0.555+0.6 )
Mean of h = 2 = 0.5775 cm
To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens:
2
l h
R= + =2.8861 cm
6h 2
Measurement of refractive indices of water and oil
1) With water between the convex lens and the plane
mirror:
R 2.8861
μ1=1+ =1+ =1.0831
f2 34.7
2) With oil between the convex lens and the plane mirror
R 2.8861
μ2=1+ =1+ =1.2886
f3 10
RESULTS
The refractive index of water is µ1 = 1.0831
The refractive index of oil is µ2 = 1.2886
PRECAUTIONS
1. The plane mirror should be a clean and fully shining
surface.
2. The liquid taken should be transparent.
3. The parallax should be removed tip to tip.
4. The eye should be at a distance about 30 cm from the
needle while removing the parallax.
5. Only a few drops of liquid should be taken so that its
layer should be thick.
6. The legs of the spherometer should be vertical.
7. The centre leg of the spherometer should turn in one
direction only.
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. Liquid may not be quite transparent.
2. The parallax may not be fully removed.
3. The spherometer legs should be placed symmetrical on
the surface of the convex lens.
4. The tip of the central screw should not just touch the
surface of the lens or mirror.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books:
1. CBSE Physics Practical Manual for Class XII.
2. NCERT Class XII Physics Textbook (Part II).
3. School Physics Laboratory Manual.
Websites:
4. Physics Classroom – “Refractive Index: Basics.”
5. General Science Educational Resource – “Ray
Optics and Refraction Overview.”