Physics
Investigatory
Project
Year: - 2025-2026
Name: - Kaseb Rahman
Class: - 12 C
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Master Kaseb Rahman, a student of class XII has
successfully completed the research on the below mentioned project
under the guidance of Mr. Bhavesh Chaubey (Subject Teacher)
during the year 2025-26.
Signature of Physics Teacher Signature of External Examiner
Signature of Principal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people
have best owned upon me their blessings and the heart pledged
support, this time I am utilizing to thank all the people who
have been concerned with project.
Primarily I would thank god for being able to complete this
project with success. Then I would like to thank my Physics
Teacher Mr. Bhavesh Chaubey whose valuable guidance has been
the ones that helped me patch this project and make it full proof
success his suggestions and his instructions has served as the
major contributor towards the completion of the project.
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.
Last but not the least I would like to thank my classmates who
have helped me a lot.
INDEX
CERTIFICATE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVE / AIM
APPARATUS / MATERIAL REQUIRED
DIAGRAM
THEORY
PROCEDURE
OBSERVATIONS
CALCULATIONS
RESULTS
PRECAUTIONS
SOURCES OF ERRORS BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION
In optics, the refractive index or index of refraction n of a material is a
dimensionless number that describes how light propagates through that
medium. It is defined as
Where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the phase velocity of light
in the medium. For example, the refractive index of water is 1.333;
meaning that light travels 1.333 times faster in a vacuum than it does in
water.
Refraction of a light ray
AIM
To find the refractive indexes of (a) water
(b) oil using a plane mirror, an Equiconvex
lens, and an adjustable object needle.
APPARATUS
Convex Lens
Plane Mirror
Water
Oil
Clamp Stand
An Optical Needle
Plumb Line
Knitting Needle
Half Meter Scale
Glass Slab
Spherometer
DIAGRAM
THEORY
1. If f1 and f2 be the focal length of the glass convex
lens and liquid lens and f be the focal length of their
combination then: -
or f
2. Liquid lens formed a Plano-concave Lens with
R1=R and R2=∞ then by using lens make’s formula
n=
Where n = Refractive index of the liquid
R = the radius of the curvature of the convex lens.
3. The radius of the lower surface of the convex lens is
given by:
R=
Here, l is the average distance between the legs of the
spherometer and h is the difference in the reading of the
spherometer when placed first on the convex lens and
then on plane mirror.
PROCEDURE
(a) For focal length of convex lens:
1. Find the rough focal length of the convex lens.
2. Place a plane mirror on the horizontal base of the
iron stand and then a convex lens on the plane mirror.
3. Hold the needle in the clamp stand and adjust its
position on the stand such that there is no parallax
between tip of the needle and its image.
4. Measure distance between tip and upper surface of
the lens by using a plumb line and half meter scale.
Also measure the distance between tip of needle and
upper surface of the mirror. Take the mean of the two
readings. This means distance will be equal to the
focal length of the convex lens (f1).
(b) For focal length of the combination.
5. Put a few drops of the water on the plane mirror
and put the convex lens over it with its same face
above as before. The water spreads in a form of layer
and acts like a Plano-concave lens.
6. Repeat the steps 3 and 4 to determine the equivalent
focal length of the combination.
7. Record the observation.
8. Repeat the steps 5, 6, 7 for other transparent liquid
(oil).
(c) For radius of curvature of convex lens
surface:
9. Determine the pitch and the least count of the
spherometer.
10. Remove the convex lens and dry it completely. Put
the spherometer on this lens surface.
11. All the three legs of the spherometer should be
placed symmetrically on the lens and adjust the
central screw tip to touch the surface of the lens.
12. Remove the spherometer from the surface of the
lens and place on the plane mirror surface and
record the reading.
13. Repeat the steps 10 and 11 three times.
14. Obtain the impressions of the three legs of the
spherometer on a paper and mark them and their
average distance.
l=
OBSERVATIONS
Pitch of the spherometer= 1 cm Least
count of the spherometer = 0.01 cm
Distance between the legs:
(1) AB = 3 cm
(2) BC = 3 cm
(3) CA = 3 cm
Table for calculation of ‘h’
S Initial reading No. of Final Additional h=n x Mean
No of the C.S. on complete reading of C.S div. pitch “h”
the convex rotations the C.S on moved + m x (cm)
lens the glass L.C
(a) (n) slab
1 62 0 6.5 55.5 0.555 0.5775
2 64 0 4 60 0.6
To measure focal length ‘f’ of convex lens
Distance of needle tip from
Area S. Tip of the upper Upper Mean Focal
between No surface of the surface of 𝑥 Length
convex lens(cm) the plane x= 1+ 𝑥2
2
lens and (cm)
plane mirror X1 mirror(cm)
X2
Without 1 30.5 31 30.75 f1=
liquid 33.85
2 36.7 37.2 36.95
With water 1 31.4 31.8 31.6 f2=34.7
2 37.5 38.1 37.8
With oil 1 9.4 9.6 9.5 f3=10
2 10.4 10.6 10.5
CALCULATIONS
Mean distance between two legs
3 cm
cm
To find the radius of curvature of the convex lens:
Measurement of refractive indices of water and oil
1) With water between the convex lens and the plane mirror:
2) With oil between the convex lens and the plane Mirror
Results
The refractive index of water is µ1 = 1.0831
The refractive index of oil is µ2 = 1.2886
PRECAUTIONS
1. The plane mirror should be clean and fully shining
surface.
2. The liquid taken should be transparent.
3. The parallax should be removed tip to tip.
4. The eye should be at a distance about 30 cm from the
needle while removing the parallax.
5. Only few drops of liquid should be taken so that its
layer should be thick.
6. The legs of the spherometer should be vertical.
7. The centre leg of the spherometer should turn in one
direction only.
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. Liquid may not be quite transparent.
2.
The parallax may not be fully removed.
3. The spherometer legs should be placed symmetrical on
the surface of the convex lens.
4. The tip of the central screw should not just touch the
surface of lens or mirror.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
HELP FROM INTERNET
HELP FROM TEACHERS
NCERT TEXTBOOK
NCERT Physics Lab
Manual
[Link]
[Link]
