EXPERIMENT – 7
Aim: To find the value of v for different values of ‘u’ in case of a concave mirror & to find its focal length.
Apparatus: An optical bench with three uprights. Concave mirror, a mirror holder, two optical needles, a knitting
needle & a half – meter scale.
Formulae Used: The mirror formula is:
1 1 1
f u v
uv
We have, f =
uv
Where, f = focal length of concave mirror.
u = distance of object needle from pole of mirror.
v = distance of image needle from pole of mirror.
Observation:
Rough focal length of given concave mirror = 10.9 cm
Actual length of the knitting needle, x = 15 cm
7
Observed distance between the mirror & object needle when knitting needle is placed between them, y = 15.2 cm.
Observed distance between the mirror & image needle when knitting needle is placed between them, z = 15.8 cm.
Index error for u, e1 = y – x = – 0.2 cm
Index error for v, e2 = z – x = – 0.8 cm
Position Corrected Distance
Sr. 1/ u 1/v
Concave Object Image PO PI -1 -1
No. u cm v cm (cm ) (cm )
Mirror P (cm) Needle O Needle I
1 0.0 18 26 17.8 25.2 0.056 0.037
2 0.0 17 30.3 16.8 29.5 0.06 0.034
3 0.0 16 33.4 15.8 32.6 0.063 0.031
4 0.0 26 18 25.8 17.2 0.038 0.058
5 0.0 30.3 17 30.1 16.2 0.033 0.061
6 0.0 33.4 16 33.2 15.2 0.030 0.065
Calculations:
(i) u – v graph:
Explanation: from mirror formula applied to point A:
1 1 1
f u v
1 2 2 u v
As u = v, or and f or
f u v 2 2
OD 21
Hence, f = 10.5 cm
2 2
Graph Scale: X’ axis: 1 cm = 5 cm of u
Y’ axis: 1 cm = 5 cm of v
OB
Also f = 10.5cm
2
Mean value of f = -10.5 cm
1 1
(ii) and graph :
u v
1 1
The focal length, f = 10.47cm
OA OB
1
Graph Scale: X’ axis: 1 cm = 0.01 cm-1 of
u
1
Y’ axis: 1 cm = 0.01 cm-1 of
v
Result: The focal length of the given concave mirror:
(i) From u – v graph is : f = –10.5 cm
1 1
(ii) From graph is: f = –10.47 cm
u v
Precautions:
(i) The uprights should be vertical.
(ii) Tip-to-tip parallax should be removed between the needle I and image of needle O.
(iii) To locate the position of the image the eye should be at least 30 cm away from the needle.
