NAVYUG SCHOOL,

SAROJINI NAGAR
NEW DELHI-110023

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

2019-20

DETERMINATION OF REFRACTIVE INDICES OF

VARIOUS LIQUIDS USING A HOLLOW PRISM

Guided by

Submitted by,

Class-Xll
 BONA FIDE CERTIFICATE

It is hereby to certify that, the original and genuine investigation

work has been carried out to investigate about the subject matter
and the related data collection and investigation has been
completed solely, sincerely and satisfactorily done by
NAME- MUSKAN AlAM of Class XII, NAVYUG SCHOOL
SAROJINI NAGAR, regarding the project titled,
“REFRACTIVE INDICES OF VARIOUS MEDIUMS”

Signature of the Guide

Principal's signature

External Examiner

Internal Examiner
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The successful completion of any task would be incomplete
without mentioning the names of those persons who helped to
make it possible. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude
in few words and respect to all those who helped me in the
completion of this project.
It is my humble pleasure to acknowledge my deep senses of
gratitude to my Physics teacher Vikas sir and lab assistant
Hariom sir for their valuable support, constant help and guidance
at each and every stage, without which this project would not have
come forth.
I also register my sense of gratitude to our principal
Mrs.Jakhmola Savita mam for her immense encouragement that
has made this project successful.
I would also like to thankful to my friends and family for
encouraging me during the course of this project.
Last, but not the least, I would like to thank CBSE for giving us
the opportunity to undertake this project.
 Project Overview

Aim
Apparatus Required
Theory
Procedure
Observations
Conclusions
Precautions
Bibliography
Aim
To find out the refractive indices of different liquids using a
hollow prism

Apparatus Required
● Hollow glass prism
● Various liquids like kerosene,Kmno4 and Glycerine etc.
● Bell pins
● Drawing board

Theory
A prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished
surfaces that
refract light.
Prisms can be
made from any
material that is
transparent
including glass,
plastic and
fluorite. A
prism can be
used to break
light up into its
constituent spectral colors. Prisms can also be used to reflect
light, or to split light into components with different
polarizations.

The refractive index of the liquid

Is given by the formula:
U=sini/sinr=sin((a+d)/2)/sin(a/2)
Where,
U=refractive index of the liquid.
a= the angle of minimum deviation
d=angle of prism
i=angle of incidence
r=angle of refraction
Procedure

● Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing board with help

of drawing pins.

● Keep the prism and mark the outline of it as ABC.

● Drop a normal PQ on the side AB.

● Draw the angle of incidence in accordance with the normal

PQ and place 2 pins so that they appear to be in the straight
line.

● Place the prism filled with given sample of liquid ,on the
marked outline ABC.
 ● Now take the pins and place them on the side AC so that all
the 4 pins appear to be in same line.

● Remove the prism and draw the line joining the points so
obtained.

● Mark the diagram as shown in the figure.

● Repeat this with different liquids and different angle of

incidence.

Observation
● Kerosene
S.no a º(angle of prism) i º (angle of incidence) d º (angle of deviation)

1
2
3
4
5

U=

# KMNO4
S.no a º(angle of prism) i º (angle of incidence) d º (angle of deviation)

1
2
3
4

U=
=

#Glycerine
S.no a º(angle of prism) i º (angle of incidence) d º (angle of deviation)

1
2
3
4
5

U=
=
Conclusion

Refractive indices at room temperature:

# Kerosene
o Actual:
o Experimental:

# Kmno4
o Actual:
o Experimental:

# Glycerine
o Actual:
 o Experimental:

Precautions

● Angle of incidence should lie b/w 25-45 degree.

● Pins should be vertically fixed and should lie in same line.

● Distance b/w two points should not be less than 10mm.

● Same angle of prism should be used for all observation.

● Arrow head should be marked to represent emergent and

incident ray.