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AIM:

To find Refractive Indices of Water And Turpentine Oil using a plane mirror, a
equiconvex lens (made from a 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 f 1 and f 2 are the focal lengths of water lens and convex lens respectively,
then focal length of the combination is:

The focal length of the plano-concave lens is, .(i)

From Lens Maker's formula,

=(

R 1 = R and R 2 = for water lens.

The refractive index of water is , .(ii)

(where 'R' is the radius of curvature of the concave surfaces of the plano-concave
lens).

The Radius of curvature of the lens, is

.(iii)
PROCEDURE:
� For finding the focal length of convex lens:

� Measure the rough focal length of the convex lens.

� 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.

� Try to remove the parallax between the tip of the object needle and its image
tip.

� Note the distance of the tip of the needle from the centre of the upper surface
of the lens. Let it be x 1. (Use plumb line).

� Remove the convex lens and measure the distance of the tip of the needle from the
plane mirror. Let it be x 2 . (Use plumb line).
2 (vi) Repeat and record all the observations.

� For finding the focal length of the plano-concave 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.

� 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
Refractive Indices of Water

Refractive Indices of Water

CONCLUSION:

The Refractive indexof water nw=


The refractive index of other liquid nl=
Pitch of the spherometer= 1 cm

Least count of the spherometer = 0.01 cm

Distance between the legs:

� AB = 3 cm

� BC = 3 cm

CA = 3 cm

OBSERVATION:
1. Rough focal length of convex lens=21 cm

PRECAUTIONS:
1. The plane mirror should be clean and fully shining surface.
2. The liquid taken should be transparent.
3. The parallex should be removed tip to tip.
4. The eye should be at a distance about 30 cm
5. The lengs of spherometer should be vertical
6. Only few drops of liquid should be taken so that its layer should be thick.
7. The centre leg of the spherometer should be turn in one direction only.

SOURCE OF ERROR:
1. Liquid may not be quite transparent.
2. The parallex may not be fully removed.
3. The tip of the central screw should not just touch the surface of lens or
mirrror.

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