To find the refractive index of water, oil using a

plane mirror, an equiconvex lens (made from a

glass of known refractive index) and an adjustable
object needle.

Project in Physics
class- Xii a3
roll no:-………………………
session – 2023-24

submitted to- submitted by

mr. anand tiwari KaushiK dubey
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I Kaushik Dubey would like to thank my
physics teacher Mr. Anand Tiwari whose
valuable guidance has been the once that
helped me patch project on To find the
refractive index of water, oil using a plane
mirror, an equiconvex lens (made from a
glass of known refractive index) and an
adjustable object needle
and make it a full success, his suggestions
and instructions have served as major
contributors towards the completion of the
project.
Then I would like to thank my
friends and family who have helped me
with their valuable suggestions and
guidance.
KaushiK dubey
Xii a
 certificate
This is to certify that Kaushik Dubey of
class XII A3 has successfully
completed the project work on “To find
the refractive index of water, oil using a
plane mirror, an equiconvex lens (made
from a glass of known refractive index)
and an adjustable object needle” in
physics for class XII practical examination
of the aissce in the year 2023-24. It is
further certified that this project is the
individual work of the candidate.

eXternal eXaminer
………………………………..
internal eXaminer
………………………………..
Index
SR. NO. CONTENTS PAGE NO.
1 OBJECTIVE 1

2 APPARATUS 2

3 THEORY 2

4 PROCEDURE 3

5 OBSERVATION 6

6 CALCULATION 7

7 RESULT 8

8 PRECAUTION 8

9 SOURCES OF ERROR 9

10 BIBLIOGRAPHY 10
Objective
TO FIND REFRACTIVE INDICES OF WATER AND
TURPENTINE OIL USING A PALNE MIRROR, AN
EQUICONVEX LENS(MADE OF GLASS OF
KNOWN REFRACTIVE INDEX) AND AN
ADJUSTABLE OBJECT NEEDLE

Apparatus:
A convex lens, an optical needle, a plane mirror, a clamp
stand, a spherometer, a plumb line, metre scale, water and
turpentine oil.

Theory:
Let’s add small amount of water on a flat, plane surface
and place a convex lens over it. This forms a plano-
concave lens of water between the lower surface of convex
lens and plane mirror.
Let f1 and f2 are the focal lengths of water lens and convex
lens respectively, then focal length of the combination is:
1 1 1
= +
F f1 f2

1 1 1
The focal length of the plano-concave lens is, f 1=F −f 2 …(i)

From Lens Maker’s formula, f1 1

=( μ−1) ( R1 1 )
1
−
R 2

=( μ−1¿ R1

∴ R1 = R and R2 = ∞ for water lens.

∴ The refractive index of water is , μ=1+fR1 …(ii)

(where ‘R’ is the radius of curvature of the concave

surfaces of the plano-concave lens).
 l2 h
The Radius of curvature of the lens, is R= +
6h 2 …(iii)

Procedure:

I. For finding the focal length of convex

lens:

(i) Measure the rough focal length of the convex

lens.

(ii) Place the plane mirror with the convex lens

placed on it above the horizontal base of a
clamp stand horizontally as its tip lies
vertically above the optical centre of the lens.
Adjust the needle at a height a little more than
the rough focal length of the convex lens.

(iii) Try to remove the parallax between the tip of

the object needle and its image tip.

(iv) Note the distance of the tip of the needle from

the centre of the upper surface of the lens. Let
it be x1. (Use plumb line).

(v) Remove the convex lens and measure the

distance of the tip of the needle from the plane
mirror. Let it be x2. (Use plumb line).

(vi) Repeat and record all the observations.

II. For finding the focal length of the
planoconcave lens:

Pour few drops of water over the plane mirror and

place the convex lens over it. Repeat steps (ii) to
(iv) as done above.
Repeat the procedure with turpentine oil also.

III. For finding ‘l’:

Determine the pitch and least count of scale of the

spherometer. Place the spherometer on the dried
surface of the convex lens. Turn the screw
downwards very gently till the tip of the screw just
touches the lens. Read and record the reading.

Keep the spherometer’s legs on the base of a paper

and adjusting the central screw, find the pricks A,
B and C of the three legs of the spherometer. Join
the centres of the three pricks and measure the
lengths with the half-metre scale. Note the values
of AB, BC and AC.
 Fig: (a) to find focal length of convex lens

(b) for the length of legs AB, BC, CA of the spherometer

Fig: to find focal length of the plano concave lens

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 Addition h=n Mean o reading

complet reading al C.S x “h” of the C.S. e of the div. pitch
on the rotation c.s on moved + m
convex s the x

lens glass L.C

(a ) (n) slab
1 62 0 6.5 55.5 0.55 0.577
5 5
2 64 0 4 60 0.6

To measure focal length f‘ of convex lens

Distance of needle tip

from
Area S.N Tip of the Upper Mean Focal between o upper surface
surface x= lengt lens and of the convex of the x1+x2 h
plane lens plane 2

mirror X1 mirror
X2
Without 1 30.5 31 30.75 f1= liquid 2 36.7 37.2 36.95 33.8
5
 With 1 31.4 31.8 31.6 f2=3 water 2 37.5 38.1 37.8 4.7
With oil 1 9.4 9.6 9.5 f3=1
2 10.4 10,6 10.5 0

CALCULATIONS
Mean distance between two legs l=

AB+BC3 +CA =3 cm

Mean h = 0.7557 cm
To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens:
l2 h
R= 6h+ 2=2.27366cm

Measurement of refractive indices of water and turpentine oil

1)With water between the convex lens and the plane mirror:

μ1=1+ R =1+2.27366=1.06552
f2

2) With turpentine oil between the convex lens and the plane
mirror

μ2=1+fR3=1+ 2.27366=1.22736
Result
The refractive index of water is µ1 = 1.06552
 The refractive index of turpentine oil is µ2 = 1.22736

Precautions
(i) The screw of the spherometer should be moved in one
direction only to avoid backlash error.

(ii) The screw should be moved just to touch the surface of the
convex lens or the glass slab.

(iii) The parallax should be removed properly.

(iv) The lens and the plane mirror should be properly cleaned.

(v) The convex lens of large focal length should be used.

(vi) The spherometer reading should be taken first on the

surface of the convex lens and then on the glass slab.

Sources of error:
(i) The distances x1 and x2 may not be measured correctly.

(ii) The value of h and l may not be correct.

(iii) Parallax may not be removed properly.

(iv) Backlash error may be acting on the spherometer.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. WEBSITES :

• www.wikipedia.org
• www.google.com
• www.yahoo.com

2. BOOKS :
Comprehensive Practical Manual for class XII