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Determination of Cauchys constant

AIM: To determine the values of Cauchys constant a and b


APPARATUS: Mercury source, Spectrometer, Prism, Reading lens, Light source etc
PROCEDURE:
Part-A: The preliminary adjustments of the spectrometer
a The spectrometer is made leveling using the sprit level
b The telescope of the spectrometer is adjusted for the parallax arrangement by focusing
to the distant object.
c Collimator slit is made narrow by adjusting the slit adjusting screw.
d All the components of the spectrometer are arranged in straight line and placed such
that the collimator is facing towards the mercury source.
Part -B: Determination of angle of Prism
Prism is placed on the prism table such that refracting edge facing towards the slit and it
get deviated through the two refracting faces as shown in figure 1. The corresponding
reading is noted by focusing to the line named as R 1 and R2. The angle of prism is
calculated using the formula
Part -C: Setting of minimum deviation position and calculation of refractive index
a) The telescope brought in line with collimator to observer fine line of white light.
b) The prism is mounted on prism table such that one of the refractingedge is facing
towards the slit. Now the telescopeis rotated towards the base of the prism till the
spectral lines are observed.
c) Once the spectral lines are observed the movement of telescope is stopped, the prism
table is rotated towards the telescope till the spectral lines in the observation get
reversed.
d) Now focus the telescope to a particular spectral line (yellow-2, yallow-1, green, blue and
violet) record the corresponding reading (R) using the one of the verneir scale.
e) Finally the telescope is brought in line with collimator to see white light and the
corresponding reading (R0) is noted.
D=R R0
f) The angle of minimum deviation is noted using
g) The refractive index of the material of the prism for each colour is calculated using the

( A+2 D )
A
sin ( )
2

sin
relation. =

b=
h) The cauchys constant are calculated using the relation

a= B

b
2B

B g
1 1
2
2
b g

and

i) The graph is plotted between refractive index along Y-axis and

1
2

along the X- axis ,

the slope of the straight line gives the cauchys constant value b. and
Result : The values of cauchys constant are found to be
b=m2

I)

a= B

b
2B

By calculation
a=

..
II) By graphically b=m2
a=
..

Ray diagram

OBSERVATION:
Least count of the spectrometer=

To find angle of prism

value of 1 MSD
0.50 30' '
=
= =1
Total no of divisionsonthe vernier 30 30

A=

R1 R 2
2

Reading of the telescope turned through 900: R2= R1 +900


Order of spectrum, n=1

Reading of vernier after turned through 450: R3= R2-450


TABULAR COLUMN:

Colour of
the
spectral
line
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue
Violet
Calculation :

Spectrometer
reading
MSR
deg

CVD

TR deg

(R
0)
de
g

Angle of
deviation
D=R0
R

( A+2 D )
A
sin ( )
2

sin
=

Wave
length
in A0

1
1012 m2
2

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