PROJECT OVERVIEW
Aim
Apparatus required
Theory
Procedure
Observations
Results
Precautions
Applications
Bibliography
AIM:
To determine the refractive index of transparent liquids using
travelling microscope and a hollow glass slab.
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
2 different transparent liquids
Hollow glass slab
Travelling microscope
Lycopodium powder
Pin
Magnifying lens
THEORY:
Refraction of light
Refraction is a change on the direction of the light when pass
from a medium to another one.
Refraction is caused due speed of light varying from one
medium to another one.
A glass slab is a cubodical substance made of glass. The angle
of deviation on glass slab is zero.That means light doesn’t
deviate in a glass slab. It’s because the incident and the
emergent ray is parallel to each other with a lateral shift
between them.
The deviation in the path of light when it passes from one
medium to another due to difference in their optical densities
is called refraction. The glass slab thus refracts the light ray
incident to it and produces a ray parallel to it.
Refractive index
It is the measure of the bending of the ray of light as it passes
from one medium to another.
It’s a dimensionless quantity that describes how light
propagates through the medium.
It is defined as the ratio of the speed of radiation in first
medium, to that in the second medium.
Snell’s law
Snell’s law gives a relationship between the path taken by a ray of
light in crossing the boundary or surface of separation between
two contacting substances and the refractive index of each.
A travelling microscope is an ordinary microscope that is fixed in
such a way that it may be made to travel in vertical as well as
horizontal direction. The readings are recorded by means of
vernier calliper of high precision (0.001cm) attached to the
instrument.
Working formula
The refractive index of liquid
Real depth of the liquid
μ=
Apparent depth of the liquid
= (Reading C – Reading A) / (Reading C – Reading B)
[Refer to Observation Table]
PROCEDURE:
1. The least count of the microscope is determined as in the
case of vernier callipers.
2. A small pin is fixed horizontally with wax or cello tape at the
bottom of the hollow glass slab .The tip of pin is focused
clearly on the microscope and the corresponding main scale
reading(MSR) and vernier scale coincidence(VSC) in the
vertical scale are noted in the tabular column.(Reading A)
3. The given liquid is taken in the hollow glass slab. Now the
image of the pin is apparently raised through a height.
Therefore it will be no longer in focus.
4. The microscope tube is moved up, so that the image of the
pin is clearly seen through the microscope. The
corresponding main scale reading (MSR) and vernier scale
coincidence (VSC) in the vertical scale are noted in the tabular
column (Reading B).
5. Finally a little lycopodium powder or saw dust which can float
on liquid is scattered on the surface to the liquid.
6. The microscope is further moved up, so that the clear image
of lycopodium powder is seen through the microscope. The
corresponding main scale reading (MSR) and vernier scale
coincidence (VSC) in the vertical scale are noted in the tabular
column (Reading C).
OBSERVATION:
Least count (VERNIER CONSTANT) for travelling microscope
1 m.s.d = 0.5mm
50 v.s.d = 49 m.s.d ⇒ 1 v.s.d = 49/50 m.s.d
Vernier constant = 1 m.s.d - 1 v.s.d
=1/50 m.s.d = 0.5/50 mm
=0.001 cm
OBSERVATION TABLE-
To find the refractive index of medium (liquids) (μ)
Real Apparent
Mat- Microscope reading
erial
(10-2m)
Thickness Thickness
μ
Without Slab With Slab (B) Lycopodium (C-A) (C-B) (C-A)/(C-B)
(A) Powder (C)
MSR VC CR MSR VS CR MSR VC CR
Cm Div Cm Cm Div Cm Cm Div Cm Cm Cm No unit
Liquid1
(Water)
Liquid 2
(Vinegar)
CALCULATION:
Refractive Index of the given liquid 1 (water)
μ1 = C1 - A1 / C1 - B1 (no unit)
Refractive Index of the given iquid 2 (vinegar)
μ2 = C2 - A2 / C2 - B2 (no unit)
RESULT:
The difference between this reading 3 and reading 1 gives the real
depth of the liquid, whereas the difference between reading 3 and
reading 2 gives the apparent depth of the liquid.
By substituting the readings in the formula, the refractive index of
the liquid (water) is determined.
The refractive index of the liquid1 (water) = (no unit)
The refractive index of the liquid2 (vinegar) = (no unit)
PRECAUTIONS:
1. In the microscope the parallax should be properly removed.
2. The microscope should be moved in the upper direction only
to avoid backlash error.
SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. The microscope scale may not be properly calibrated.
APPLICATIONS:
Determination of focusing power of lenses and dispersive
Power of prisms.
Transmission of light through fibre optic cable
Characterization of fluids using refractometer
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
NCERT Text book class 12
NCERT Class 12 Physics practical manual
www.scribd.com
www.google.com
