1

ANGLE OF MINIMUM DEVIATION OF PRISM

Objective: Study of the variation of angle of deviation with the angle of incidence by plotting I~ D curve
and hence determine the angle of minimum deviation for a given wavelength using a spectrometer.

APPARATUS:
Spectrometer, Prism, Sodium Lamp and Spirit level.

Overview:
A light ray is said to be deviated when there is a
change in the path of light ray suffering reflection or
refraction. When a light ray suffers from refraction, the angle
between the incident ray and emergent ray is called the angle
of deviation. In Fig. 1 i is the angle of incidence, r is the
angle of emergence and is the angle of deviation. When
refraction takes place, through a prism in such a manner that
the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of emergence, the
refracted ray will be parallel to the base of the prism. The ray is symmetrical under these
conditions. It can be mathematically proved that when the above conditions are satisfied for a
particular value of i, the deviation suffered by the light ray is minimum and the angle of
deviation is known as the angle of minimum deviation
m
. For any other value of i, the value of
increases.

















Fig. 2: Experimental set up
Fig. 1
2

Procedure:
1. Become familiar with the spectrometer
Identify each component: the circular scale, the prism table, the collimator, and the telescope.
Note the clamping screws and the fine adjustment screws for the telescope. Note the
clamping screw for the prism table.
Note how to adjust focusing of the slit in the collimator tube and also the telescope focus and
the eyepiece.
Note how the slit width can be adjusted.
2. Determine the vernier constant (VC) of the spectrometer by filling up Table-1.
3. Practice reading the angle from the circular scale. Use the vernier scale with the little
magnifying glass to read the angle to the nearest arc minute. (1 arcmin = 1' = 1/ 60 degree.)
The following is an example: In the figure below, the zero point on the vernier scale is
between the 155 and 15530' (or 155.5) marks on
the degree plate. So the main scale reading (M) is
155. Now note the vernier reading (V) by finding the
line on the vernier scale that aligns most closely with
any line on the main scale. From figure, V=15.
Assuming the vernier constant (VC) = 1', the total
reading (T) is T = 155 + (1'15) = 155 15' or
155.4. For convenience convert all the readings to
degrees.


4. Complete all the preliminary adjustments and focusing of the spectrometer as instructed
in the supporting manual.
5. Clamp the prism table
6. Illuminate the slit of the collimator with the given source, i.e. sodium lamp. Note that the
lamp takes some time to warm up before getting fully illuminated. Adjust the telescope
position in line with the collimator so that the direct image of the slit is centered on the
vertical crosswire. Note the reading for this position of telescope on any one of the
verniers (say V
1
). (No need to tabulate it.)

7. Setting the angle of incidence (i): (Refer
Fig. 2)
DO NOT PLACE THE PRISM ON THE
SPECTROMETER YET.
Let us start with an angle of incidence, i (say 45).
To set this angle the telescope should be rotated in
clockwise or anticlockwise direction from the direct
image position exactly by an angle = 180-2i, i.e.
(180 90) = 90, looking at the same vernier V
1
.
Clamp the telescope in this position. The angle
between the axes of the collimator and telescope is
2i (i.e.90
0
).
Telescope position
for angle of incidence
Telescope position
for angle of deviation
Collimator
Fig. 2
3

Keep the prism on the prism table oriented as shown in Fig. 2.

Release the prism table and turn it slowly, till the reflected image of the slit from the
refracting surface AB is visible in the field of view of the telescope.
Clamp the prism table. Using the fine adjustment screw allow the image of the slit to
coincide with the vertical cross-wire. The prism is now adjusted for an angle of incidence
i = 45.

8. Angle of deviation (): (Refer Figs. 2 and 3)
Keeping the prism table clamped, slowly turn the
telescope towards the second refracting surface AC (away
from the collimator till the image of the slit is visible in
the field of view of the telescope.
Clamp the telescope. Using the fine adjustment screw
allow the image of the slit coincide with the vertical
cross-wire. Note down the readings. Let the readings be

1
and
2
on the two verniers V
1
and V
2
respectively.
Remove the prism and rotate the telescope as shown by
arrow in Fig. 3 to get the direct image of the slit
coinciding with the vertical cross-wire. Let the readings
be D
1
and D
2
on the two verniers V
1
and V
2
respectively.
The angle of deviation can then be calculated as

1
= (
1
~B
1
) for V
1

2
= (
2
~B
2
) for V
2
Thus the mean angle of deviation for an angle of
incidence i = 45 is determined as o =
1
2
(o
1
+o
2
).

9. Repeat the above procedure (7 & 8) to find the angle of deviation o, for various values of
i starting from 45 to 80 in steps of 5 and fill up tables 2 & 3 simultaneously.
10. Plot a graph between angle of incidence i (X-axis) and the angle of deviation 6 (Y-axis)
and determine the angle of minimum deviation o
m.

11. Knowing the angle of prism and refracting index of the material of the prism, calculate
the value of o
m
and compare with the value determine from graph.
Observations:
Table 1: Determination of vernier constant (VC) of the spectrometer
Value of 1 small main scale division (MSD) =
. vernier scale divisions = .. main scale divisions
Hence, 1 vernier scale division = main scale division (VSD)
Vernier Constant (VC) = (1 VSD) x MSD =
Fig. 3
4

Table 2: For Vernier I

i (
0
) Deviated ray (
1
) (
0
) Direct ray ( D
1
) (
0
) Angle of deviation

1
= (
1
~B
1
)
(
0
)
M.S.R V.C V.S.R Total M.S.R V.C V.S.R Total
45
50





Table 3: For Vernier II
i (
0
) Deviated ray (
2
) (
0
) Direct ray ( D
2
) (
0
) Angle of deviation

2
= (
2
~B
2
)
(
0
)
M.S.R V.C V.S.R Total M.S.R V.C V.S.R Total
45
50





Table 4: data for i ~ 6 plot

Calculations:
From graph, angle of minimum deviation, 6
m
=
From calculation: Given, angle of prism A= 60
0
,
refractive index of the material of prism = 1.52 (for crown glass) and 1.62 (for flint glass)
i (
0
) 45 50
=
1
2
(o
1
+o
2
)
Mean 6
(
0
)












5

Using the equation, p =

sn[
A+6
m
2

sIn [
A
2

, calculate 6
m
=
Discussions:
Precautions:
1. Leveling of both the spectrometer and the prism table has to be done accurately and Prism
table should be fixed to its axis.
2. The slit should be as narrow as possible.
3. Gently turn the fine adjustment screws and avoid backlash errors.
4. Carefully handle the prism. Do not touch the refracting surfaces by hand. Place the prism on
the prism table or remove it from the prism table by holding it with fingers at the top and
bottom faces.
Reference:
1. Practical Physics, R.K. Shukla and A. Srivastava.