PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT
SESSION: 2024-25

Topic – To investigate the dependence of the angle

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

Submitted by – Deebakar Choudhury

Class - XII
Roll no. -
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this PHYSICS project titled ‘To
investigate the dependence of the angle of deviation
on the angle of incidence using a hollow prism filled
one by one, with different transparent fluids’. has
been successfully completed by DEEBAKAR
CHOUDHURY of class XII in the partial fulfillment of
curriculum of CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY
EDUCATION (CBSE) in the year of 2024-2025.
This project is genuine and does not indulge in
plagiarism of any kind.

Examiner’s signature Teacher in charge

DATE Principal’s signature

Institution’s rubber stamp

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Firstly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our
Physics Teacher, ‘Dr. SHARMILA NATH’ for her vital
support, guidance and encouragement without which
this project would not come forth.

Secondly, I greatly acknowledge the valuable guidance of

Dr. PRASANTA BHATTACHARYA (Principal,TG) for his
encouragement and inspiration.

Then I would like to thank my parents and friends who

have helped me with their valuable suggestions and
guidance has been helpful in various phases of the
completion of the project. Without their motivation and
help, the successful completion of this project would not
have been possible. I hope you will like this project.

Name – Deebakar Choudhury

Class : XII

Roll No. :
 CONTENTS
Page No.

1. INTRODUCTION 1
2.AIM 2
3.REQUIREMENTS 2
4.THEORY 3-4
5.RAY DIAGRAMS 5-7
6.PROCEDURE 8-9
7.OBSERVATION 10
8.CALCULATIONS 11
9.RESULT 12
10. PRECAUTIONS 13
11. BIBLIOGRAPHY 14
 1

INTRODUCTION
What is a Hollow prism?

A hollow prism is prism made using glass plate

and the center of the prism is vacant. This
cavity can be filled with gases and many other
fluids. Thus, it is also called as fluid prism.

What is the difference between a Normal prism and a

Hollow prism?

A normal prism is a solid shaped that is bound on all sides by plane

surfaces. It has three sides. Prisms are usually made up of glass and
are pure solid. A prism works because different colours of light travel
at different speeds inside the glass prism. As a result, the colours of
light gets refracted inside the prism and spreads out instead of mixed
up.
On the other hand, a hollow prism is quite different in terms of a
normal prism. Structurally it is similar to a normal prism but
functionally it is different. Hollow prism refracts light rays only when
it is filled with fluids or gases because the central part is vacant and
no medium is present to refract light rays.
 2
AIM
To investigate the dependence of the angle of deviation on the angle
of incidence using a hollow prism filled one by one, with different
transparent fluids.

REQUIREMENTS
 Hollow prism

 Hardboard

 Pins

 Water

 Kerosene

 Ethanol

 Lazer light

 Some Pages

 Pencil

 Ruler
 3

THEORY
Refraction through a prism :
Deviation produced by a prism.
Figure 1 shows the path PQRS of a ray
of light suffering refraction through a
triangular glass prism. The angle between
the directions of the incident ray PQ
and the emergent ray RS is called the
angle of deviation,δ. Let i and r be the
angles of incidence and refraction at
theface AB,and r' and e be angles of
incidence and emergence at the face AC. Let A be the
angle of the prism.
From the quadrilateral AQNR, A+ ∠QNR=180°
From ΔQNR, r+r'+∠QNR=180° ∴ A=r+r'
δ = ∠MQR + ∠MRQ = (I - r) + (e - r') = i + e –A

or i+e=A+δ or Angle of incidence + Angle of emergence = Angle of prism + Angle of

deviation

So, when a ray of light is refracted through a prism, the sum of the
angle of incidence and the angle of emergence is equal to the sum of
the angle of the prism and the angle of deviation.
Variation of angle of deviation with angle of incidence.
Figure 2 shows the variation of angle of deviation δ with the angle of
incidence i. For a given prism and for a green colour of light, the
angle δ depends on i only. As i increases, the angle δ first decreases
and reaches a minimum value δm and then increases. Clearly, any
given value of δ corresponds to two angles of incidence i and e.
 4
The minimum value of the angle of deviation suffered by a ray
on passing through a prism is called the angle of minimum
deviation and is denoted by δm or Dm.

Relation between refractive index and angle of minimum

deviation.

When a prism is in the position of minimum deviation, a ray of light

passes symmetrically (parallel to the base) through the prism so that
i = e, r = r', δ = δm
As A+δ=i+e
𝐴+ 𝛿𝑚
∴ A + δm = i + i or i=
2

𝐴
Also A = r + r' = r + r = 2r ∴r=
2

From Snell’s law, the refractive index of the material of the prism will
be
𝐴+𝛿
sin 𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
µ= = 𝐴
sin 𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
 5
RAY DIAGRAMS
WATER
 6
KEROSENE
 7
ETHANOL
 8
PROCEDURE
1. Fix a sheet of white paper on the drawing board with drawing
pins. Draw a long straight line XY in the middle of the paper
and parallel to its longer side. Mark six points O1, O2, O3 at
suitable (a few cm more than the side of the prism) and equal
distances on the line. Draw perpendiculars O1N1, O2N2, O3N3 on
this line.

2. Draw incident rays at the points O1, O2, O3 making angles of

incidence of 40°, 50° and 60° respectively with the normals,
using a protractor.
3. Fill the hollow prism with water and close its plastic lid. Dry
drops of water, if any, sticking on its outer surface.
4. Place the prism with its refracting face AB on the line XY with
point O, in the middle of AB, as shown in Fig. 3(a). Draw the
boundary of the prism with a sharp pencil.
5. Fix two pins P and Q on the incident ray already marked.
Looking into the prism from the opposite refracting face AC,
position the eye in such a way that the feet of P1 and Q1 appear
to be one behind the other. Now fix pins R1 and S1 in line with
P1and Q1, so as viewed through the prism. Keep the eye at some
 9
distance from the pins so that all the pins can be seen in clear
focus simultaneously, as shown in Fig. 4. Distances P1Q1 and
R1S1, should not be less than 6 cm so as to locate the directions
of the incident and emergent rays accurately.

6. Remove the pins and encircle their pin pricks. Draw the line
joining R1, and S1. Produce lines P1Q1 and R1S1, so that they
meet at point M1. Measure the angle of incidence i = ∠P1O1N1
and the angle of deviation
δ=∠ S1MT.
7. Repeat the experiment with angles of incidence like 40°, 50°
and 60° and measure the corresponding angles of deviation in
each case, as shown in Fig. 3(a).
8. Repeat the experiment by filling the hollow prism with ethyl
alcohol and kerosene. Note the values of i and δ, as shown in
Figs. 3(b) and (c).
9. Note the angle of the prism.
 10

OBSERVATIONS
Least count of the protractor = …………. degrees
Angle of the prism, A = …………. degrees

Table: Variation of angle of deviation δ with angle of incidence i

For a hollow prism filled with different transparent liquids

Angle of deviation δ for hollow prism filled with

Angle of
incidence i
S.No. (degrees) Water Ethanol Kerosene

1. 40° 25° 25° 30°

2. 50° 25° 25° 30°

3. 60° 29° 30° 35°

 11

CALCULATIONS

i) Angle of minimum deviation for water,

δm = ________ degrees
Refractive index of water,
𝐴+𝛿𝑚
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
µ water = 𝐴 = _________
𝑠𝑖𝑛
2

ii) Angle of minimum deviation for ethanol,

δm = __________degrees

Refractive index of ethanol,

𝐴+𝛿𝑚
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
µ ethanol = 𝐴 = ___________
𝑠𝑖𝑛
2

iii) Angle of minimal deviation for kerosene,

δm = __________degrees
Refractive index of kerosene,
𝐴+𝛿𝑚
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
µ kerosene = 𝐴 = _________
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
 12

RESULT

1. ANGLES OF MINIMUM DEVIATION ARE

δm (water) = ________degrees
δm (ethanol) = ________degrees
δm (kerosene) = _______degrees

2. Refractive indices of the liquids are

µ water = _______
µ ethnaol = _______
µ kerosene = _______
 13

PRECAUTIONS

1. Same angle of prism should be used for all observations.

2. The angle of incidence should not be less than 30°, as the ray
may get totally reflected inside the prism.
3. For prisms of side 2.5 cm of 3 cm , the distance between any
two pins should not be less than 6 cm.
4. Pins should be placed vertically and the pin pricks should be
encircled immediately after they are removed.
5. The feet of the pins should be in the same straight line.
6. Indicate the paths of the incident, the refracted and the emergent
rays by arrowheads.
7. Position of the prism should not be disturbed for a set of
observations.
8. After filling the hollow prism with a liquid, it should be covered
properly by the plastic lid.
 14

BIBLIOGRAPHY
For the successful completion of my project. I have taken help from
the following websites ÷

https://www.scribd.com/

https://byjus.com/

Class 12 Physics lab manual

THE
END