]
February 5
2026
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT FILE
TOPIC: To find the refractive index of water and oil using a plane mirror
and an equiconvex lens and an adjustable object needle
submitted by: Aditya submitted to :
class: 12th medical Mr. Mohd. Zafar
roll number: ________
CONTENT
Certificate
Acknowledgement
TOPIC
Introduction
Apparatus
Theory
Procedure
Observations
Calculations
Results
Precautions
Sources of error
Bibliography
CERTIFICATE
This certifies that Aditya, Class 12 Medical, DELHI
PUBLIC SCHOOL BALLABGARH, completed a project
on finding refractive indices of water and
transparent oil using a plane mirror, an equiconvex
lens (glass with known refractive index), and an
adjustable needle. Guided by Mr., session 2025-
2026.
Internal Examiner
External Examiner
Principal
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Acknowledgements
I am deeply grateful to the Central Board of Secondary
Education (CBSE) for granting me the chance to undertake
this investigatory project. My sincere thanks go to my
physics instructor, Mr. Mohd. Zafar, whose expert
guidance and foundational knowledge were instrumental
in the successful completion of this work. I would also like
to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our Principal, Mrs.
Arti Lawand, for his unwavering support and for providing
all the necessary resources that made this project possible.
TOPIC
To find the refractive index of (a)
water (b) oil using a plane mirror
and an equiconvex lens and an
adjustable object needle.
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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 medium. The refractive
index determines how much the path of light
is bent, or refracted when entering a material.
This is described by Snell’s law of refraction,
n1 Sinθ1=n2 Sinn2,
Where,
θ1= Angles of incidence
θ2= Angle of refraction,
Respectively of a ray crossing the interface
between two media with refractive indices n1
and n2
Apparatus
Convex lens
Plane mirror
Water
Oil
Clamp stand
An Optical needle
Plumb line
Knitting needle
Half meter Scale
Glass slab
Spherometer
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To find the refractive index of water, oil
using a plane mirror and an equiconvex
lens and an adjustable object needle .
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,
Liquid lens formed is a
planoconcave lens with
R1 = R (radius of curvature of convex
lens surface)
R2 = ∞
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Wher
e,
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:
Here, I 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
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
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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
equal to the focal length of the convex
lens (fi).
(b) For focal length of the combination.
1 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.
2 Repeat the steps 3 and 4 to determine the
equivalent focal length of the
combination.
3 Record the observation.
4 Repeat the steps 5, 6, 7 for other
transparent liquid (oil).
( c ) For radius of curvature of convex
lens surface:
1. Determine the pitch and the least
count of the spherometer.
2. Remove the convex lens and dry it
completely. Put the spherometer on this
lens surface.
3. 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.
4. Remove the spherometer from the
surface of the lens and place on the plane
mirror surface and record the reading.
5. Repeat the steps 10 and 11 three
times.
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6. Obtain the impressions of the three
legs of the spherometer on a paper and
mark them and their average distance.
OBSERVATION
Pitch of the spherometer=1 cm
Least count of the spherometer=0.01
Distance between the Legs:
(1) AB=3cm
(2) BC=3 cm
(3) CA=3cm
C
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ALCULATION
Mean Distance Between two legs
l= (AB+ BC+ CA)/3 = 3cm
Mean of h = (0.555 +0.6)/3=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
With water between the convex lens and the
plane mirror
μ1 =1+R/f2 = 1+2.8861/34.7=1.0831
With oil between the convex lens and the plane
mirror
μ2 =1+R/f3 = 1+2.8861/10=1.2886
RESULT
The refractive Index of Water is μ1=1.0831
The refractive Index of Oil is μ2=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.
6. The legs of the spherometer should be vertical.
[Link] centre leg of the spherometer should turn
in one direction only.
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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
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. NCERT Textbook
2. NCERT Physics Lab Manual
3. [Link]
4. [Link]
5. [Link]
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