MARIA ASSUMPTA [Link].
CONVENT SCHOOL
PHYSICS PROJECT
Session 2025-2026
To find the refractive indices of (a) water (b) oil
(transparent) using a plane mirror, an equiconvex
lens (made from a glass of known refractive index)
and an adjustable object needle.
Submitted to: Geeta Ma’am
Submitted by: Srishty Batra
Class: XII-B
Roll No: 32
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Srishty Batra student of
class 12th B has successfully completed the
project under the guidance of Ma’am Geeta
during the academic year
2025-2026.
It is also been approved requirement in this
project has been fulfilled solely by the
applicant with whole heartiest and honest
attitude of work for the project on the topic of
“To find the refractive indices of (a) water (b)
oil (transparent) using a plane mirror, an
equiconvex lens (made from a glass of known
refractive index) and an adjustable object
needle. ”
Internal Examiner
Sign
External Examiner Principal
Sign Sign
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my gratitude to all
those who helped me in completing the
project effectively on time. I am equally
grateful to Geeta Ma’am. She
gave me the moral support and guided me
in different matters regarding the topic.
She had been very kind and patient while
suggesting me the outline of the project
and correcting my doubts. without her
support this project would not have been
possible. Lastly, I would like to thanks my
parents , sister and colleagues who helped
me a lot in gathering different information
collecting data and guiding me.
Thank You
SRISHTY BATRA
XII-B
INDEX
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INTRODUCTION
In optics, the refractive index (a.k.a.
refraction index) of an optical
medium is a dimensionless number
that indicates the
light-bending ability of that
[Link] refractive index
determines
how much the path of light is bent,
or refracted when entering a
[Link] is described by Snell's
law of refraction, n1 sin 01 = n2 sin
02, where 01 and 02 are the angles
of incidence and refraction,
respectively, of a ray crossing the
interface between two media with
refractive indices n1 and n2.
OBJECTIVE
To find the refractive indexes of
(a)water (b) oil using a plane mirror,
an equiconvex lens, and an
adjustable object needle.
To find the refractive indexes of
(a)water (b) oil using a plane mirror,
an equiconvex lens, and an
adjustable object needle.
MATERIALS
REQUIRED
Water An Optical needle
Oil Plumb line
Knitting needle
Clamp stand
Half meter scale
Convex lens Glass slab
Plane mirror Spherometer
Theory
If f1 and f2 be the focal length of glass
convex lens and liquid lens and F be
the focal length of their combination
then,
1 1 1 ff2
f
=
f1 + f2
or f2 = -
f f
1
Liquid lens formed a plano-concave
kens with R1 = R and R2 = ∞ then by
using lens make’s formula
1
f2
= (n-1) [ ] 1
R1
-
1
R2
= (n-1) [ ] 1
R1
-
1
= (n-1)
[ ] 1
R
- 0
1
f2 = n-1
R
n= R +1
f2
Theory
Where n=Refractive index of the
liquid
R=The radius of the curvature of the
convex lens.
The radius of the lower surface of the
convex lens is given by:
R= l h
2
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 plane
mirror.
DIAGRAM
PROCEDURE:
(a) For focal length of convex lens:
[Link] the rough focal length of the convex lens.
[Link] a plane mirror on the horizontal base of the
iron stand and then a convex lens on the plane
mirror.
[Link] 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.
[Link] 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 mean distance will
be equal to the focal length of the convex lens(f1).
(b) For focal length of the combination.
[Link] 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.
[Link] the steps 3 and 4 to determine the
equivalent focal length of the combination.
[Link] the observation.
[Link] the steps 5,6,7 for other transparent
liquid(oil).
(c)For radius of curvature of convex lens surface:
[Link] the pitch and the least count of the
spherometer.
[Link] the convex lens and dry it completely.
Put the spherometer on this lens surface.
[Link] 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.
[Link] the spherometer from the surface of the
lens and place on the plane mirror surface and
record the reading.
[Link] the steps 10 and 11 three times.
[Link] the impressions of the three legs of the
spherometer on a paper and mark them and their
average distance.
l= l1+l2+l3
3
Observation
Pitch of the spherometer= 1cm
Least count of the spherometer=0.01cm
Distance between the legs:
[Link]= 3cm
[Link]=3cm
[Link]=3cm
Table for calculation
of ‘h’
Calculation
RESULTS
[Link] refractive index of water is u1 = 1.33
[Link] refractive index of other liquid u2 =1.2886
PRECAUTIONS
[Link] plane mirror should be clean and fully shining
surface.
[Link] liquid taken should be transparent.
[Link] parallax should be removed tip to tip.
[Link] eye should be at a distance about 30 cm from
the needle while removing the parallax.
[Link] few drops of liquid should be taken so that
its layer should be thick.
[Link] legs of the spherometer should be vertical.
[Link] centre leg of the spherometer should turn in
one direction only.
SOURCES OF
ERROR
[Link] may not be quite transparent.
[Link] parallax may not be fully removed.
[Link] spherometer legs should be placed symmetrical on
the surface of the convex lens.
[Link] tip of the central screw should not just touch the
surface of lens or mirror.