PHYSICS 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.
 INTRODUCTION
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat,
polished surfaces that refracts light. The exact angles
between the surfaces depend on the application. The
traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism
with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in daily
use “prism” usually refers to this type. Some types of
optical prism are not in fact in the shape of geometric
prisms. Prisms can be made from any material that is
transparent to the wavelengths for which they are
designed. Typical materials include glass, plastic and
fluorite. Prism can be used to break light up into its
constituent spectral colors (the colors of the rainbow).
Prisms can also be used to reflect light, or to split light into
components with different polarizations.

Before Isaac Newton, it was believed that white

light was colorless, and that the prism itself produced the
color. Newton’s experiments demonstrated that all the
colors already existed in the light in a heterogeneous
fashion, and that “corpuscles” (particles) of light were
fanned out.
Because particles with different colors travelled with
different speeds through the prism. It was only later that
Young and Fresnel combined Newton’s particle theory
with Huygens’ wave theory to show that color is the visible
manifestation of light’s wavelength. Newton arrived at his
conclusion by passing the red color from one prism
through second prism and found the color unchanged.
From this, he concluded that the colors must already be
present in the incoming light and white light consists of a
collection of colors. As the white light passes through the
triangular prism, the light separates into the collection of
colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
This collection of colors formed by the prism is called the
spectrum. The separation of white light into its spectrum is
known as dispersion.

Dispersion occurs because each color travels

through the prism at different speeds. Violet travels the
slowest through the prism; hence we can see it refracting
the most. On the other hand, red passes through at a
much fast rate which makes its angle of refraction less,
hence red is too scarce to be seen.
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:
Drawing board, white sheets of paper prism drawing
pins, pencil, half meter scale, thump pins, graph papers
and a protractor.

THEORY:
Refraction of Light through a Prism –

Diagram shows section ABC of a prism taken by a vertical

plane, perpendicular to the edge. BC is the base of the
prism and AB and AC are its two refracting surfaces.
RQ is the incident ray.
QS is the refracted ray.
ST is the emergent ray.
RQN1 = i = angle of incidence
SQN3 = r1 = angle of refraction inside prism
QSN3 = r2 = angle of incidence inside prism
TSN2 = e = angle of emergence
BAC = A = angle of prism
SFK = D = angle of deviation
In QFS, KFS = FQS + FSQ
D = (i – r1) + (e – r2)
D=i+e- …(1)
(r1-r2)
In QS1N3, r1 + r2 +
QN3S = 180⁰ … (2)

The quadrilateral AQN3S is cyclic

quadrilateral, then
A + QN3S = 180 … (3)
From (2) and (3)
A = r1 + r 2 …(4)
Eq. (1) becomes
D = i + e - A … (5)

Angle of Minimum Deviation -

Definition: The minimum value of angle
of deviation is called angle of minimum
deviation. It is represented by the
symbol Dm.
Explanation: For same angle of
deviation (D) there are two values of
angle of incidence. One value equals ‘i’
and other value equals ‘e’.
As angle ‘i’ is increased from a small
value, ‘e’ decreases from large value
and angle of deviation decreases.
When angle of deviation is minimum
(Dm), then, ‘i’ and ‘e’ becomes equal.
The refracted ray QS goes parallel to base BC.
sin
i sin e
Since i = e, we have r1 = r2. ( ∵n= sin r1 = sinr 2 )
Hence, at minimum deviation, when r1 = r2 = r
(say).
We have A = r1 + r2 = r + r = 2r
A
⇒
r= 2

Also, at minimum deviation, D = Dm

e and i =

From relation, A+D=i+e

We have, A + Dm = i + i = 2i
A+ Dm
⇒ i= 2

From Snell’s law,

n = sin i
sin r

Sin A+Dm
2
We have n= sin A
2

This relation is useful for determination

of n for Prism material.
PROCEDURE:
1.A white sheet of paper was fixed on the drawing
board with the help of drawing pins.
2.A straight line XX’ parallel to the length of the paper
was drawn nearly in the middle of the
paper.
3.Points Q 1,Q2,Q3 and Q4 were marked on the straight
line XX’ at suitable distances of about 6cm.

4.Normal’s N1Q1,N2Q2,N3Q3 and N4Q4 were drawn on

points Q1,Q2,Q3 and Q4.
5.Straight lines R1Q1,R2Q2,R3Q3 and R4Q4 were drawn
making angles of 40⁰,45⁰,50⁰ and 55⁰ respectively
with the normals.
6.One corner of the prism was marked as A and it was
taken as the edge of the prism for all the observations.
7.Prism with its refracting face AB was put in the line XX’
and point Q1 was put in the middle of AB.

8.The boundary of the prism was marked.

9.Two pins P1 and P 2 were fixed vertically on the line
R1Q1 and the distance between the pins were about
2cm.
10. The images of points P1 and P2 were looked
through face AC.
 11. Left eye was closed and right eye was opened
and was brought in line with the two images.

12. Two pins P3 and P4 were fixed vertically at about

2cm apart such that the open right eye sees pins P4
and P3 as images of P2 and P1 in one straight line.

13. Pins P1,P2,P3 and P4 were removed and their

pricks on the paper were encircled.
14. Steps 7 to 13 were again repeated with points
Q2,Q3 and Q4 for i=45⁰,50⁰ and 55⁰.
15. Straight lines through points P4 and P3 were drawn
to obtain emergent rays S1T1, S2T2, S3T3 and S4T4.

16. T1S1,T2S2 ,T3S3 and T4S4 were produced inward in

the boundary of the prism to meet produced incident
rays R1Q1, R2Q2,R3Q3 and R4Q4 at points F1,F2,F3 and
F4 .
17. Angles K 1F1S1,K2F2S2,K3F3S3 and K4F4S4 were
measured. These angles give angle of deviation
D1, D2,D3 and D4.
18. Values of these angles were written on the
paper.
19. Angle BAC was measured in the boundary of the
prism. This gives angle A.
20. Observations were recorded.

OBSERVATIONS:
Angle of hollow prism A = 60⁰
S.No. Angle Angle of Angle Angle of
of deviation of deviation
incidence for deviation for
water for turpentine
kerosene oil
oil
1 40⁰ 23⁰ 36⁰ 32⁰
2 45⁰ 24⁰ 33⁰ 33⁰
3 50⁰ 25⁰ 34⁰ 34⁰
4 55⁰ 26⁰ 35⁰ 35⁰
RESULTS:
The angle of minimum deviation for –
Water Dm = 23⁰C
Kerosene oil Dm = 33⁰C
Turpentine oil Dm = 32⁰C

The refractive indices of the-

Water n = 1.32
Kerosene oil n = 1.46
Turpentine oil n = 1.44

Speed of light in-

Water v = 2.3x108 m/s

Kerosene oil v = 2.05x108 m/s
Turpentine oil v = 2.08x108 m/s

PRECAUTIONS:
 The angle of incidence should lie between
35⁰ – 60⁰.
 The pins should be fixed vertical.
 The distance between the two pins should
not be less than 10mm.
 Arrow heads should be marked to represent
the incident and emergent rays.
  The same angle of prism should be used for all
the observations.

SOURCES OF ERRORS:
Pin pricks may be thick.
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