HINDUSTAN

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,
PADUR
(Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi
Affiliation No:1931031, School Code : 55940)

GRADE - XII
PHYSICS PROJECT REPORT

SUBMITTED BY

KEYA ELIZABETH MATHEW

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project report entitled “To Determine the Refractive Index of
Water and Transparent liquid (Oil) ” submitted by Keya Elizabeth Mathew of grade
XII ‘Science’ with Roll No. _____________________ for the AISSCE - 2024-25 at
Hindustan International School, Padur has been examined. This report is checked by the
Practical External/ Internal Examiner on ___________________.

Signature of the Internal Examiner Signature of the External Examiner

Signature of the Principal

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deep sense of honour and gratitude to my project guide
Ms. Kokila, for guiding and mentoring me through the course of the project. She always
evinced keen interest in my work. Her constructive advice and constant motivation have
been responsible for the successful completion of this project.
My sincere regards go to our respected Principal, Ms. Susan George for extending every
possible support for the completion of this project.
I also extend my obligation to my Parents for their motivation and support. I must thank my
classmates for their timely help and support in the completion of this project.
Last but not the least, I would like to thank all those who helped me directly or indirectly
towards the successful completion of this project.

Keya Elizabeth Mathew

Grade XII

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

S. NO. TOPIC PG. NO

1. INTRODUCTION 5

2. AIM 5
3. MATERIAS REQUIRED 5
4. THEORY 6
5. PROCEDURE 8

6. OBSERVATION 10

7. CALCULATION 11
8. RESULT 12
9. PRECAUTIONS 12

10. SOURCES OF ERROR 12

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY 12

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INTRODUCTION:
When a ray of light travels from one transparent medium into another, its direction will
change in the second medium. The extent of the change in direction that takes place in a
given pair of media may be expressed in terms of a dimensionless number called the
refractive index. It indicates the light- bending ability of the medium.
The refractive index determines how much the path of light is refracted when entering a
material. It is defined as,
𝑐
𝑛=
𝑣
where, c is the speed of light in vacuum (approximately 3 × 108 m/s) and v is the velocity
of light in the transparent medium.

AIM:
To find the refractive indices of (a) water (b) oil (transparent liquid) using a plane mirror,
an equiconvex lens and an adjustable object needle.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
A convex lens, a plane mirror, water, oil, clamp, stand, an optical needle, half metre scale,
glass slab and spherometer

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THEORY:

i) Let f1 be focal length of the glass convex lens and f2 be focal length of the plano-
concave lens formed by the transparent liquid, and f be focal length of their
combination. Using the formula of combination of lenses, we can find value of
focal length of the plano- concave lens using f and f1,
𝑃 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2
1 1 1
= +
𝑓 𝑓1 𝑓2
𝑓𝑓1
𝑓2 =
𝑓1 − 𝑓

ii) Radius of lower surface of convex lens is given by the following formula,
𝑙2 ℎ
𝑅= +
6ℎ 2
where,
l = average distance between the legs of the spherometer
𝑙1 + 𝑙2 + 𝑙3
𝑙=
3
h = difference in the reading of the spherometer when placed first on convex lens
and then on plane mirror

iii) Liquid lens formed a plano-concave lens with 𝑅1 = 𝑅 and 𝑅2 = ∞, then by

using lens maker’s formula we can find value of refractive index of the given
transparent liquid,
1 1 1
= (𝑛 − 1) −
𝑓2 𝑅1 𝑅2
Substituting in lens maker formula,
1 1 1
= (𝑛 − 1) ( − )
𝑓2 𝑅 ∞

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 1 1
= (𝑛 − 1) ( −0)
𝑓2 𝑅
1 𝑛−1
=
𝑓2 𝑅
𝑅
𝑛−1=
𝑓2
𝑅
𝑛= +1
𝑓2

where,
n= refractive index of transparent liquid
R= radius of curvature of lower surface of convex lens

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PROCEDURE:

For focal length of convex lens:

1. Find rough focal length of 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 top of the needle and its image. Ensure that the tip of
needle appears touching the tip of its image.
4. Measure distance between tip of needle and upper surface of the lens by using a
plumb line and half metre scale (x1). Also measure the distance between tip of
needle and plane mirror (x2). Take the mean of these two readings. This mean
distance will be equal to the focal length of the convex lens (x)

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 combination
7. Record the observation
8. Repeat the steps 5,6,7, for other transparent liquid (kerosene oil).

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For radius of curvature of convex lens surface:
9. Determine the pitch and the least count of the spherometer
[Link] the convex lens and dry it out 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 just to touch the surface of the lens.
[Link] the spherometer from surface of lens and place on the plane mirror and turn
the central screw so that its tip touches the plane mirror surface and record the
readings.
[Link] the impressions of the three legs of spherometer on paper, and mark them
and their average distance,
𝑙1 + 𝑙2 + 𝑙3
𝑙=
3

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OBSERVATIONS:

1. Table to determine focal length of lens and combinations:

Arrangement Distance of needle tip Focal length x

(cm)
From lens From plane Mean
surface mirror x2 (cm) 𝑥1 + 𝑥2
𝑥=
x1(cm) 2
Without liquid 10 10.8 10.4 f1= 10.4 cm
With water 15.2 16 15.6 fw= 15.6 cm
With oil 20.2 21 20.6 fo = 20.6 cm

2. Table to find h

Optical Main Scale Circular Scale Total Reading (T.R) h= [Link] – [Link]
instrument Reading Reading = M.S.R+ (C.S.R * (Total reading
(M.S.R) (C.S.R) L.C) lens- Total
reading mirror)
Mirror 0 6 0.06 mm 1.86 mm
Lens 1 92 1.92 mm

Value of h= 1.86 mm = 0.186 cm

Value of 𝑙1 = 3.5 cm , 𝑙2 = 3 cm, 𝑙3 = 3.5 cm

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CALCULATIONS:

𝒍𝟏 + 𝒍𝟐 + 𝒍𝟑
𝒍=
𝟑
3.5 + 3 + 3.5
𝒍= = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟑 𝒄𝒎
3

𝒍𝟐 𝒉𝟐
𝑹= +
𝟔𝒉 𝟐

𝑙 = 3.33 𝑐𝑚, ℎ = 0.186 𝑐𝑚

(3.3)2 0.186 10.89 0.186
𝑅= + = +
6 ( 0.186) 2 1.16 2

𝑹 = 9.758 + 0.093 = 𝟗. 𝟖𝟓𝟏 𝒄𝒎

𝒇𝒘 𝒇𝟏
𝒇𝟐 (𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫) =
𝒇𝒘 −𝒇𝟏

𝑓𝑤 = 15.6 cm, 𝑓1 = 10.4 cm

15.6 ∗ 10.4 162.24
𝒇𝟐 (𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫) = = = 𝟑𝟏. 𝟐 𝒄𝒎
15.6 − 10.4 5.2

𝒇𝒐 𝒇𝟏
𝒇𝟐 (𝐨𝐢𝐥) =
𝒇𝒐 −𝒇𝟏

𝑓𝑜 = 20.6 cm, 𝑓1 = 10.4 cm

20.6 ∗ 10.4 214.24
𝒇𝟐 (𝐨𝐢𝐥) = = = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟎𝟎 𝒄𝒎
20.6 − 10.4 10.2

𝑹
𝒏=𝟏+
𝒇𝟐

9.851
𝒏𝒘 = 1 + = 1 + 0.315 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟏𝟓
31.2
9.851
𝒏𝒐 = 1 + = 1 + 0.469 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟔𝟗
21

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RESULTS:
The refractive index of water determined experimentally, 𝒏𝒘 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟏𝟓
The refractive index of transparent liquid (oil) determined experimentally, 𝒏𝒐 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟔𝟗

PRECAUTIONS:
1. The plane mirror should be 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 30cm from the needle while removing the
parallax
5. Only 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 central leg of spherometer should be turned 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 may noy be placed symmetrical on the surface of convex lens.
4. The tip of central screw may noy just touch the surface of lens or mirror

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Physics Lab Manual [Comprehensive Practical Physics Class XII Publisher: Laxmi
Publications]
2. [Link]
3. [Link]

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