Name of the experiment: To determine the radius of curvature of a Plano

Convex lens using Newton’s rings.

Objectives:
The main objective of this experiment is to observe the Newton’ rings and to measure the
diameters of some rings to determine the radius of curvature of a Plano convex lens.

Pre-lab:
Student should read the lab manual and have clear idea about the objective, time frame and
outcomes of the lab.
1.1Outcomes:
After completing this experiment student should be able to answer the following questions:

 What are Newton’s Rings?

 How are Newton’s rings formed? Why are they circular?
 What is the function of the 45° inclined glass plate?
 Why do rings get closer as their order increases?
 Why is the center of the ring dark?
1.4 Timing and Length of Investigation (Total 3 Hours):
 Lab Preparation (10 minutes):
 Students will sit for the lab class with preparations and class attendance
will be taken.
 Lecture on Theory (30 minutes):
 Teacher will clarify the objective and theory of the experiment.
 Demonstration of Procedure (15 minutes):
 Demonstrator will make the students understand the procedure of the
experiment.
 Experimental Work (90 to 100 minutes):
 Design of experiment: 10 minutes
 Data collection: 50 minutes
 Data analysis, drawing graphs, and completing the result part: 30 to 40
minutes
 Post Lab Discussion (15 to 20 minutes):
 Teacher will summarize the total lab work and have a discussion with the
students related to the questions given in the outcomes part.
 Report Preparation & Submission (20 minutes):
 Student will prepare their lab reports as groups in MS word and submit
their group lab report in printed form at the end of the lab.
1.5 Theory:
Newton’s rings are an example of interference of light waves reflected from the opposite
surfaces of a thin film of variable thickness. In this case, a plano-convex lens of large radius of
curvature placed on a plane glass plate forms a thin air film of progressively increasing thickness
from the point of contact between the lens and the glass plate.
The air film thus possesses a radial symmetry about the point of contact. When it is illuminated
normally with monochromatic light, an interference pattern consisting of a series of alternate
dark and bright circular rings, concentric with the point of contact is observed (Fig-1).

Figure-1: Newton’s Ring

The fringes are the loci of points of equal optical film thickness and gradually become narrower
as their radii increase.

Figure-2: Formation of coherent light.

Fig. 2 depicts the formation of two coherent rays BC and EF by means of division of amplitude
of a single incident ray AB. Monochromatic light ray AB is incident at the point B on the upper
surface of the film (Fig-2). One portion of the ray is reflected from point B on the glass air
boundary and goes along BC. The other part refracts into the air film along BD. At point D, a
part of light is again reflected along DEF. The two reflected waves BC and BDEF are derived
from the same source and are coherent. They will produce constructive or destructive
interference depending on their path difference.
If ‘t’ be the thickness of the film at the point E, and assuming normal incidence and large radius
of curvature the optical path difference between the two rays
Δ𝑥 = 𝜇(𝐵𝐷 + 𝐷𝐸) = 2𝜇𝑡 [𝜇 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚]
In addition, a phase change of 𝜋 and corresponding additional path difference 𝜆 created at point D
2
during reflection yields a path difference between the two waves BC and BDEF as
𝜆
Δ𝑥 = 2𝜇𝑡 ±
2
The two rays will interfere constructively creating Bright fringes when,

𝜆
2𝜇𝑡 ± = 𝑛𝝀
2
𝝀..............................................
Or, 𝟐𝝁𝒕 = (𝟐𝒏 − 𝟏) (1)
𝟐

The minus sign has been chosen purposely since 𝑛 can not have a value of zero for bright fringes
seen in reflected light.

The rays will interfere destructively creating Dark fringes when

𝜆 𝝀
2𝜇𝑡 ± = (2𝑛 ± 1)
2 𝟐
Or, 𝟐𝝁𝒕 = 𝒏𝝀.................................(𝟐)

𝜆 is the wavelength of light in air.

Figure-3: Derivation of radius of curvature

Let R be the radius of curvature of the convex surface and 𝑟𝑛 be the radius of 𝑛𝑡ℎ fringe where
thickness of the air film is 𝑡 as shown in Fig. 3. From the right angled triangle OFB 1 we get the
relation

𝑅2 = 𝑟𝑛2 + (𝑅 − 𝑡)2
𝑂𝑟 𝑟𝑛2 = 2𝑅𝑡 − 𝑡2

As 𝑡 is extremely small, 𝑡2 may be neglected compared to 2𝑅𝑡.

𝑟2
Then, 𝑡 = 𝑛
2𝑅

Substituting the value of 𝑡 in the expressions for bright and dark fringes, we have
𝑛𝜆𝑅
𝑟2 = … … … … … … … … … 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘
𝑛
𝜇 𝜆𝑅............................................
And 𝑟2 = (2𝑛 + 1) 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑛 𝜇

The corresponding expressions for the squares of the diameters are

𝜆𝑅..................................
𝐷2 = 2(2𝑛 − 1) 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑛
𝜇
4𝑛𝜆𝑅............................................
And 𝐷2 = 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘
𝑛 𝜇

In the laboratory, the diameters of the newton’s rings can be measured with a travelling
microscope. Usually, a little away from the center, a bright (or dark) ring is chosen which is
clearly visible and its diameter is measured.

Let it be the 𝑛𝑡ℎ order ring. For an air film, 𝜇 = 1. Then we have,

𝐷𝑛2 = 2(2𝑛 − 1)𝜆𝑅 … … … … … . . (3).....................𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

And 𝐷𝑛2 = 4𝑛𝜆𝑅 … … … … … … . (4).......................𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘

The wavelength of monochromatic light employed to illuminate the film can be computed from
either of the above equations, provided R is known.
However, in actual practice, another ring, 𝑝 from this ring onwards is selected. The diameter of
this (𝑛 + 𝑝)𝑡ℎ ring is also measured. Then we have,

𝐷𝑛+𝑝
2
= 2(2𝑛 + 2𝑝 − 1)𝜆𝑅..............................𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
 And 𝐷𝑛+𝑝
2
= 4(𝑛 + 𝑝)𝜆𝑅...............................𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘

Subtracting 𝐷2 from 𝐷2 , we have

𝑛 𝑛+𝑝

𝐷2 − 𝐷2 = 4𝑝𝜆𝑅 … … (5)
𝑛+𝑝 𝑛
For either bright or dark ring,

𝐷2 − 𝐷2
𝑛+𝑝
𝑅= 𝑛
… … … … … … … (6)
4𝑝
𝜆

1.6 Apparatus:
Two convex lenses one of whose radius of curvature is to be determined, glass plate, sodium
lamp, travelling microscope etc.

1.7 Procedure:

Figure 4: Experimental arrangement

(1) Arrange the apparatus as shown in the Figure-4. Level the microscope so that the scale
along which it slides is horizontal and the axis of the microscope is vertical. Focus the
eye- piece on the cross-wires. Determine the vernier constant of the micrometer screw of
the microscope.
(2) Carefully clean the surfaces of the lens L and glass plate P by means of cotton moistened
with benzene or alcohol. Place the glass plate P as shown in the figure. Make an ink dot-
mark on the glass plate and focus the microscope on this dot. Now place the lens L on it
in such a way that the center of the lens, which is exactly above the dot, is vertically
below the microscope objective.
(3) Place the glass plate G in its position, as shown in the figure, in such a way that light from
 the source S, after passing through the lens C, is incident on it at an angle of approximately
450. If you now look into the microscope, you will probably see a system of alternate
dark and bright rings. Adjust the glass plate G by rotating it about a horizontal axis until a
large number of evenly illuminated bright and dark rings appear on both sides of the
central dark spot. Adjust the position of the lens C with respect to the flame so that a
maximum number of rings are visible through the microscope. This will happen when the
flame will be at the focal plane of the lens C.
(4) After completing these preliminary adjustments, focus the microscope to view the rings
as distinctly as possible and set one of the cross-wires perpendicular to the direction
along which the microscope slides. Move out the microscope to the remotest distinct
bright ring on the left side of the central dark spot. The cross-wire should pass through
the middle of the ring and should be tangential to it. Note the reading of the microscope.
Move the microscope back again. Turn the screw always in the same direction to avoid
any error due to back-lash. Set the cross-wire carefully on the center of each successive
bright ring and observe the microscope reading. Go on moving the microscope in the
same direction. Soon it will cross the central dark spot and will start moving to the right
side of it. As before set the cross-wire on the consecutive bright rings and take readings.
Proceed in this way until you have reached the same remotest bright ring as in the case of
left side of the dark spot. Considering a particular ring, the difference between the left
side and right side readings, gives the diameter of the ring. In this way, the diameters of
the various rings are determined.
(5) Tabulate the readings in the data table. While tabulating the reading you should be
careful about the number of the ring so that the left side and right side readings
correspond to the same ring.
(6) The whole experiment may be repeated moving the microscope backwards in the
opposite direction over the same set of rings
(7) Draw a graph with the square of the diameter as ordinate and number of the ring as
abscissa. The graph should be a straight line.
(8) From the graph, determine the difference between the squares of the diameters of
any two rings which are separated by say about 10 rings i.e., p is equal to 10.
Now calculate R with the help of equation (6).
1.8Analysis:

Least count of the micrometer screw L.C=...............................mm

Table-1: Readings for ring diameter

Readings of the microscope Diameter

Left Side(L) Right Side(R) of the
Ring ring D2

Total reading, L=MSR+VSR

Total reading, L=MSR+VSR

Vernierscalereading (VSR)=

Vernierscalereading (VSR)=
Number [D=L~R]
Ver. Division ×L.C mm

Ver. Division ×L.C mm

mm mm2
Main scale reading

Main scale reading

(MSR) mm

(MSR) mm
mm

mm
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1.9 Calculation:

The mean wavelength of the Sodium light, λ= 5893 Å = 5893×10-8 cm

From the graph,

2 2
Slope= 𝑅 = 𝐷𝑛+𝑝 −𝐷 𝑛 𝑚𝑚2 = … … … … … … … … . 𝑚𝑚2 =.................................𝑐𝑚2
𝑝

Thus, the radius of curvature of the lower surface of the given lens is,
𝐷2 − 𝐷2
𝑛+𝑝 𝑛
𝑅=
4𝑝𝜆

𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒
=
4𝜆

=−−−−−−−−−−−−

= … … … … … … . . 𝑐𝑚

1.10 Results:

The value of the radius of curvature =...............................𝑐𝑚

1.11 Discussions:

1.12 Resources:
For further understanding, students may go through the following resources:
 Fundamentals of Physics: Light as a wave (Chapter 35, page 1047).
 Practical Physics (by Dr. Giasuddin Ahmed & Md. Shahabuddin): Exp. 46:
To determine the radius of curvature of a lens by Newton’s rings (Page-274).

 Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=fWhgguWc8rk
 A
C F
L

Lens
E
B
t

P D

Glass Plate