ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost we would like to express our sincere gratitude to our
physics teacher for her patience, motivation, enthusiasm and immense
knowledge. Her guidance aided us in all the time of research and in the
completion of this investigation. Without her persistent help we could
have not pursued this study. We would like to extend our heartfelt
gratitude to our beloved parents who have been a constant source of
encouragement and financial support. Last but not the least, the almighty
for blessing us, as a result this investigation could be completed. We are
thankful for the wisdom and perseverance that had been bestowed upon us
during this investigation.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

S.no Topic Page

1 Abstract 1
2 Introduction 2
3 Experiment 3
4 Theory 4
5 Procedure 5
6 Observation 6,7
7 Calculation 8
8 Result 9
9 Applications 10
10 Bibliography 11
11 Conclusion 12
 ABSTRACT

The refractive index is a fundamental optical property that determines how

light propagates through a medium. This study aims to measure the
refractive indices of various liquids using a novel method involving a
hollow sphere. The hollow sphere, crafted from a transparent material with
a known refractive index, is filled with the liquid under investigation. By
analyzing the path of light as it traverses the liquid-filled sphere, we can
accurately determine the refractive index of the liquid.
In our experimental setup, a collimated light beam is directed at the
hollow sphere, and the angles of incidence and refraction are precisely
measured using high-resolution detectors. By applying Snell's law and
geometric optics principles, the refractive index of each liquid is
calculated. This method offers significant advantages in terms of precision
and ease of handling, especially for small liquid volumes.
We tested a range of common and industrial liquids, including water,
benzaldehyde, dil. sulfuric acid. The results are consistent with established
values, validating the accuracy of the hollow sphere method.
Overall, the hollow sphere method presents a reliable, accurate, and
practical approach for determining the refractive indices of various liquids,
with potential applications in chemical analysis, quality control, and
optical engineering.
 INTRODUCTION
Refractive index, measure of the bending of a ray of light when passing
from one medium into another. If i is the angle of incidence of a ray in
vacuum and r is the angle of refraction, the refractive index n is defined as
the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of
refraction; i.e., n = sin i / sin r. Refractive index is also equal to the
velocity of light c of a given wavelength in empty space divided by its
velocity v in a substance, or n = c/v. A hollow prism is an optical device
similar to a traditional solid prism, but with a significant difference: its
interior is empty or filled with air rather than a solid material. Density
influences refraction because it affects the speed at which light travels. In
denser materials, light travels slower, causing it to change direction or
refract. This is why light bends when it moves from air (less dense) into
water or glass (more dense). The degree of bending, or refraction, is
determined by the refractive index, which is higher for denser materials.
 EXPERIMENT

Aim:
To find out the refractive indices of different liquids using a hollow prism

Apparatus Required:
❖ Hollow glass prism
❖ Various liquids like water, carbon disulfide, benzaldehyde etc.
❖ Bell pins
❖ Drawing board
 THEORY

A prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces

that refract light. Prisms can be made from any material that is
transparent including glass, plastic and fluorite. A prism can be
used to break light up into its constituent spectral colors. Prisms
can also be used to reflect light, or to split light into components
with different polarizations. The refractive index of the liquid
Is given by the formula:
𝑈 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖/𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑟 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛((𝑎 + 𝑑)/2)/𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑎/2)
Where,
U=refractive index of the liquid.
a= the angle of minimum deviation
d=angle of prism
i=angle of incidence
r=angle of refraction
 PROCEDURE

➢ Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing board with help of drawing
pins.
➢ Keep the prism and mark the outline of it as ABC.
➢ Drop a normal PQ on the side AB.
➢ Draw the angle of incidence in accordance with the normal PQ and
place 2 pins so that they appear to be in the straight line.
➢ Place the prism filled with given sample of liquid ,on the marked
outline ABC.
➢ Now take the pins and place them on the side AC so that all the 4 pins
appear to be in same line.
➢ Remove the prism and draw the line joining the points so obtained.
➢ Mark the diagram as shown in the figure.
➢ Repeat this with different liquids and different angle of incidence.
 OBSERVATION
• Benzaldehyde
S.no aº(angle of prism) iº (angle of incidence) dº (angle of deviation)
1. 60 30 45
2. 60 35 42
3. 60 37.5 40
4. 60 39 42
5. 60 40 45

• Water
S.no aº (angle of prism) iº (angle of incidence) dº (angle of deviation)

1. 60 30 25
2. 60 35 22
3. 60 40 20
4. 60 45 22
5. 60 50 25
6. 60 55 28
 • Dil. Sulfuric Acid

S.no aº (angle of prism) iº (angle of incidence) dº (angle of deviation)

1. 60 20 33
2. 60 30 30
3. 60 35 25
4. 60 40 29
5. 60 45 30
 CALCULATION

1. Benzaldehyde
𝑎 = 60
𝑑 = 40
𝑈 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖/𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑟 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛((𝑎 + 𝑑)/2)/𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑎/2)
𝑈 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 60 + 40/2)/𝑠𝑖𝑛(60/2)
= 1.504
2. Water
𝑎 = 60
𝑑 = 22
𝑈 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖/𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑟 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛((𝑎 + 𝑑)/2)/𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑎/2)
𝑈 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 60 + 22/2)/𝑠𝑖𝑛(60/2)
= 1.306
3. Dil. sulfuric acid
𝑎 = 60
𝑑 = 25
𝑈 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖/𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑟 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛((𝑎 + 𝑑)/2)/𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑎/2)
𝑈 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 60 +/25)/𝑠𝑖𝑛(60/2)
=1.351
 RESULT

Refractive indices at room temperature:

 Benzaldehyde

Actual: 1.546

Experimental: 1.504

 Water

Actual: 1.33

Experimental: 1.306

 Dil. Sulfuric acid

Actual: 1.355

Experimental: 1.351
 APPLICATIONS
Applications of Refractive Index:

Lens Design and Optics: The refractive index is crucial in designing lenses for
glasses, cameras, microscopes, and telescopes, determining how much light is bent
when entering the material.

Fiber Optics: Used in telecommunications, the refractive index difference between

the core and cladding of optical fibers ensures total internal reflection, allowing
light to travel long distances with minimal loss.

Material Identification: Different materials have distinct refractive indices. This

property is used in quality control and material identification in industries like
gemology and pharmaceuticals.

Applications of Hollow Prism:

Interferometers: Hollow prisms are used in interferometers to split a beam of light

into two or more beams, which then travel different paths and interfere with each
other when recombined. This interference pattern can be analyzed to extract
information about the light source.

Spectroscopy: In spectroscopy, hollow prisms are used to split light into its
constituent wavelengths, allowing scientists to analyze the spectrum of the light
source. This is useful in fields such as astronomy, chemistry, and materials science.

Projection Systems: Hollow prisms can be used in projection systems to split light
from a single source into multiple paths, enabling the display of images or data on
multiple screens simultaneously.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

I have completed my project with taking help of following:

 NCERT Book (Part 2)

 Wikipedia
 YouTube
 britannica.com
 CONCULSION

Different liquids have distinct refractive indices, which can be determined by

measuring the angle of minimum deviation when light passes through a hollow
prism filled with the liquid. This variation highlights the unique optical properties
of each liquid, which are influenced by factors such as molecular structure and
density. The hollow prism method provides a relatively accurate and precise way to
measure the refractive index of liquids. Factors such as the quality of the prism, the
accuracy of angle measurement, and the purity of the liquid can affect the results.
Proper calibration and careful experimental procedures are essential to minimize
errors. The refractive index of a liquid varies with the wavelength of light used in
the experiment (dispersion). This dispersion can be studied further by using light of
different wavelengths and analyzing how the refractive index changes, providing
deeper insights into the optical properties of the liquid. Experimental results can be
compared with standard literature values to verify the accuracy of the
measurements. Discrepancies, if any, can lead to a discussion on potential sources
of error or new findings about the liquid under investigation. The hollow prism
method is practical for liquids that are transparent and have relatively low viscosity,
ensuring that the liquid can be easily introduced into and removed from the prism.
Highly viscous or opaque liquids might require alternative methods for accurate
refractive index determination. In summary, the experiment demonstrates the ability
to measure the refractive index of various liquids accurately using a hollow prism,
underscores the importance of precise measurement techniques, and highlights the
practical applications and theoretical implications of refractive index data in
scientific and industrial contexts.