Physics investigatory project

TOPIC

To investigate the dependence of the angle of

deviation on the angle of incidence using a
hollow prism filled with different transparent
fluids.

Guided by Mr.

Submitted by:
Class-XII-D
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that of class XI Jala has

successfully completed his project on topic
“To investigate the dependence of the angle of
deviation on the angle of incidence using a
hollow prism filled with different transparent
fluids” as prescribed by during
the academic year 2024-2025 as per the
guidelines given by CBSE.

Sign of external Teacher’s sign

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The successful completion of any task would be

incomplete without mentioning the names of
those persons who helped to make it possible. I
take this opportunity to express my gratitude in a
few words and respect to all those who helped me
in the completion of this project.
It is my humble pleasure to acknowledge my
deep sense of gratitude to my Physics teacher, Mr.
Dileep for his valuable support, 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. Maria Joe Jagadesh, for his
immense encouragement that has made this
project successful.
I would also like to thank my friends and family
for encouraging me during the course of this
project.Last, but not the least, I would like to
thank CBSE for giving us the opportunity to
undertake this project.
 INDEX

Sr.no Subtopic Pg.no

I Cover page 1

II Certificate 2

III Acknowledgement 3

IV Index 4

V Introduction 5-6

VI Aim and Apparatus required 7

VII Theory 8

VIII Procedure 9

IX Observation 10-11

X Conclusion 12-13

XI Precaution , Sources of errors 14

XII Bibliography 15
 INTRODUCTION

In optics, a prism is a transparent optical device that

refracts light and has polished, flat surfaces. The
application determines the precise angles between the
surfaces. In everyday language, "prism" generally
refers to the classic geometric shape of a triangular
prism, which has rectangular sides and a triangular
base. Certain kinds of optical prisms aren't really
shaped like geometric prisms. Any substance that is
transparent to the wavelengths for which it is intended
can be used to create prisms. Materials such as glass,
plastic, and fluorite are typical. Light may be split out
into its component spectral hues—the colors of the
rainbow—using a prism.

Additionally, light may be separated into components with

different polarizations or reflected using prisms.

Prior to Isaac Newton, it was thought that color was

formed by the prism and that white light was colorless.
Newton's investigations showed that "corpuscles," or
particles of light, were fanned out and that all the hues
already existed in the light in a heterogeneous manner.
Due to the fact that various colored particles passed
through the prism at different rates. The combination
of Huygens' wave theory and Newton's particle theory
by Young and Fresnel only later demonstrated that
color is the wavelength of light's visible manifestation.
Newton came at his conclusion by observing that the
color red remained the same after passing it through a
second prism.

This led him to the conclusion that since white light is

made up of a variety of hues, the colors had to be
present in the incoming light beforehand. The
triangular prism divides white light into a group of
hues that include violet, red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, and indigo. The spectrum is the group of colors
created by the prism. Dispersion is the term used to
describe the division of white light into its spectrum.

Because every color moves through the prism at a

different pace, dispersion happens. Violet exhibits the
greatest amount of refraction since it passes through
the prism the slowest. Red, on the other hand, is too
scarce to be seen because it passes through more
quickly, reducing its angle of refraction.
 EXPERIMENT TO PROVE THE
DEPENDENCE OF ANGLE OF
DEVIATION ON ANGLE OF INCIDENCE

Aim:
To investigate the dependence of the angle of deviation
on the angle of incidence using a hollow prism filled with
different transparent fluids.

Apparatus Required:
● Hollow glass prism
● Various liquids like water, carbon disulphide,
benzaldehyde etc.
● Drawing 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 istransparent 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 a º(angle of prism) i º (angle of incidence) d º (angle of deviation)

1 60 30 45
2 60 35 42
3 60 37.5 40
4 60 39 42
5 60 40 45

U = 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 25
2 60 35 22
3 60 40 20
4 60 45 22
5 60 50 25
6 60 55 28

U = sin((60+22)/2)/sin(30)
= 1.306
Dilute Sulphuric Acid:

S.no a º(angle of prism) i º (angle of incidence) d º (angle of deviation)

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

U= sin((60+25)/2)/sin(30)
= 1.351
 CONCLUSION
Refractive indices at room temperature:

● Benzaldehyde

o Actual: 1.546
o Experimental: 1.504

● Water

o Actual: 1.33
o Experimental: 1.306

● Dil . Sulphuric acid

o Actual: 1.355
o Experimental: 1.351

From the observations above, we can analyze

that the angle of deviation is depending on the
liquid present in the prism, the angle of
deviation is different for Benzaldehyde, water
and dilute sulphuric acid.
We can also see that the angle of deviation does
depend on the angle of incidence, as when the
angle of incidence is changed the angle of
deviation also changes. The theoretical values
of all the angle of deviations for all liquids may
vary due to different concentration, density,
viscosity of liquid and different prisms being
used for the experiment. The observations may
also be affected by the physical conditions like
humidity and temperature of surroundings.
Various other factors like parallax and
inaccurate scale readings can also cause error.
 PRECAUTIONS
o Angle of incidence should lie between 35-60
degree.

o Pins should be vertically fixed and should lie in

same line.

o Distance between two points should not be less

than 10mm.

o Same angle of prism should be used for all

observation.

o Arrow head should be marked to represent

emergent and incident ray.

SOURCES OF ERRORS:

o Pin pricks may be thick.

o Measurement of angles may be wrong.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following sources were used for the appropriate

information required to complete the project:

1. Comprehensive: Practical Physics Class XII

2. NCERT textbook of class XII
3. Google