KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA No.

2,
Pondicherry University Campus, Kalapet, Puducherry-14
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
2013-
‘14

DETERMINATION OF REFRACTIVE INDICES OFVARIOUS LIQUIDS USING A

HOLLOW PRISM
Guided by,Submitted by,Class XII
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The successful completion of any task would beincomplete without mentioning the
names of those persons whohelped to make it possible. I take this opportunity to
express mygratitude in few words and respect to all those who helped me inthe
completion of this project.It is my humble pleasure to acknowledge my deep senses
ofgratitude to my Physics teacher, Teacher name

for her valuablesupport, constant help and guidance at each and every stage,without
which this project would not have come forth.I also register my sense of gratitude to
our principal,
Mr.principal
, for his immense encouragement that has madethis project successful.I would also
like to thank my friends and family for encouragingme during the course of this
project.Last, but not the least, I would like to thank CBSE for giving usthe opportunity
to undertake this project.
BONA FIDE CERTIFICATE
It is hereby to certify that, the original and genuine investigationwork has been carried
out to investigate about the subject matterand the related data collection and
investigation has beencompleted solely, sincerely and satisfactorily done by
NAME
of Class XII, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2, Pondicherry-14,regarding the project titled,
“REFRACTIVE INDICES OF
VARIOUS
MEDIUMS”

Signature of the Guide

Principal’s Signature

Submitted for ALL India SENIOR SECONDARYEXAMINATION held on _____________ at

KENDRIYAVIDYALAYA No.2, PONDICHERRY.
Project Overview
AimApparatus RequiredTheoryProcedureObservationsConclusionsPrecautionsBibliography
Aim
To find out the refractive indices of different liquids using ahollow prism
Apparatus Required

Hollow glass prism

Various liquids like water, carbon disulphide, benzaldehydeetc.

Bell pins

Drawing board
Theory
A prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polishedsurfaces thatrefract light.Prisms can
bemade from anymaterial that istransparent including glass, plastic and fluorite. A prism can
beused to break light up into its constituent spectral colors. Prismscan also be used to reflect
light, or to split light into componentswith different polarizations.The refractive index of the
liquidIs 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 deviationd=angle of prismi=angle of incidencer=angle of
refraction
Procedure

Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing board with helpof 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 normalPQ and place 2 pins
so that they appear to be in the straightline.

Place the prism filled with given sample of liquid ,on themarked outline ABC.

Now take the pins and place them on the side AC so that allthe 4 pins appear
to be in same line.

Remove the prism and draw the line joining the points soobtained.

Mark the diagram as shown in the figure.

Repeat this with different liquids and different angle ofincidence.

Observation

Benzaldehyde
S.no a º(angle of prism) i º (angle of incidence) d º (angle of deviation)
1 60 30 452 60 35 423
60 37.5
40
4 60 39 425 60 40 45U=sin((60+40)/2)/sin(30)= 1.504

Water
S.no a º(angle of prism) i º (angle of incidence) d º (angle of deviation)
1 60 30 252 60 35 223 60 40 204
60 45 22
5 60 50 256 60 55 28U=sin((60+22)/2)/sin(30)= 1.306
Dil. Sulphuric Acid
S.no a º(angle of prism) i º (angle of incidence) d º (angle of deviation)
1 60 20 332 60 30 303
60 35 25
4 60 40 295 60 45 30U=sin((60+25)/2)/sin(30)= 1.351
Conclusion
Refractive indices at room temperature:

Benzaldehyde
o

Actual: 1.546
o

Experimental: 1.504
o

Water
o

Actual: 1.33
o

Experimental: 1.306
o

Dil . Sulphuric acid

o

Actual: 1.355
o

Experimental: 1.351
Precautions

Angle of incidence should lie b/w 35-60 degree.

Pins should be vertically fixed and should lie in same line.

Distance b/w two points should not be less than 10mm.

Same angle of prism should be used for all observation.

Arrow head should be marked to represent emergent andincident ray.