Kendriya vidyalaya , cutn campus

Thiruvarur.
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

SUBMITTED BY : B.D.LIDIYA
SUBMITTED TO : MISS. KRUTHIKA
CLASS : XII
ROLL NUMBER : 1209
Signature of physics teacher :

Signature of principal :

Signature of external examiner :

 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that B.D.LIDIYA of class XII has
successfully completed the research on the below
mentioned project under the guidance of Miss.
KRUTHIKA (physics teacher) during the year
2024-25 in partial fulfillment of physics practical
examination.

Signature of physics teacher

In the accomplishment of this project successfully,
many people have best owned upon me their
blessings and the heart 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 my physics teacher Miss.

Kruthika and my principal Mr. Vallabhan whose
valuable guidance has been the ones that helpd me
oatch this project and make it full oroff success his
suggestions and his instructions has served as the
major contributor towards the completion of the
project.

Last but not the least I would like to thank my

friends who have helped me to complete this project.
 Certificate
 Acknowledgement
 Introduction
 Aim of project
 Apparatus required
 Theory
 Procedure followed
 Observation
 Calculations
 Result
 Precaution
 Source of error
 Bibliography
 INTRODUCTION
PRISM
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element
with flat , polished surfaces that refract light.
REFRACTION
In homogenous medium, light travels along a
straight line. But whenever it falls on the surface
of another medium, a very small fraction of it is
reflected back and most of the light passes into
the medium, through with a change of direction.
This phenomenon of the bending of light at the
surface of separation of two media is called
refraction of light.
ANGLE OF DEVIATION
The angle through which the incident ray of light
is deviated is called the angle of deviation. It is
the angle between the emergent ray and the
incident ray produced.
 EXPERIMENT
AIM :
To find out the refractive indices of different
liquids using a hollow prism and to find the speed
of light in given transparent fluids.
Apparatus:
 Hollow glass prism
 Drawng board
 Pins
 Meterscale
 Protector
 Sheets of white paper
 Various liquid
a) Water
b) Kerosene oil
c) Turpentine oil
THEORY :
diagram shows section ABC of a prism taken by a
vertical plane, perpendicular to the edge. BC the
base of prism and AB and AC are its two
refracting surfaces.
QS is refracted ray.
ST is 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) ……… (1)
D = i+ e-(r1 + r2) …………. (2)
In QS1N3, r1 + r2 + <QN3S = 180 …….(3)

From (2) and (3),

A= r1 + r2
Eq. (1) becomes,
D = i+ e – A

D +A = i + e

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. Since i=e, we have
r1 = r2 .
... n= Sin i = Sin e
Sin r1 Sin r2
Hence, at minimum deviation, where r1 = r2= r
(say),
We have, A = r1 + r2 = r + r = 2r (or)
r = A/2

Also, at minimum deviation, D = Dm and i = e

From relation, A + D = i+e
We have, A+ Dm = i + i =2i (or)
i = A + Dm
2
 From Snell’s law, n= Sin i
Sin r
We have,
n= sin A + Dm
2
Sin (A/2)

This relation is useful for determination of 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
thepaper.
3. Points Q1, 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 Q,1 , Q2 , Q3 and Q4.
5. Straight lines R1Q1, R2Q2 , R3Q 3 and R4Q4 were
drawn making angles of 40°, 45°,50° and 55°
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 P2 were fixed vertically on the
line R1 Q2 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 2 cm 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=45°,50° and 55°.
TO MEASURE D IN DIFFERENT CASE
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 R1Q,1 R2Q2, R3Q3 and R4Q4
at points F1,F2,F3 and F4.
17. Angles KF1S1, K2F2S2, K3F3S3 and K4F4S4 were
measured. These angles give angle of deviation
D1, D2, D3 and D4.
TO MEASURE A
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.
Observation :
S. Angle of Angle of deviation of
NO incidence water Kerosene Turpentine
oil oil
1. 40° 23° 36° 32°
2. 45° 24° 33° 33°
3. 50° 25° 34° 34°

4. 55° 26° 35° 35°

CALCULation :
Angle of hollow prism A = 60°
Plot the graphs between angle of incidence (<i)
and angle of deviation (<D) by taking i along X-
axis and <D along Y-axis for each transparent
liquid. From the graph find the value of angle of
minimum deviation Dm corresponding to the
lowest point of the graph. Let the value of angle of
minimum deviation,
Dm =
Then refractive index of the transparent medium,

n= sin A + Dm
2 ………. (1)

Sin (A/2)

speed of light in a transparent medium is,

v = c/n …………………… (2)
where speed of light in air, c3x10 m/s.
rESULT :
The angle of minimum deviation for -
Water (Dm) = 23°C
Kerosene oil ( Dm) = 33°C
Turpentine Oil (Dm) =32°C
The refractive indices of the –
Water (n) = 1.32
Kerosene oil (n) = 1.46
Turpentine Oil (n)=1.44
Speed of light –
Water (v) = 2.3 x 108 m/s
Kerosene oil (v) = 2.05 x 108 m/s
Turpentine Oil (v)= 2.08 x 108 m/s
PRECAUTIONS:
 The angle of incidence should lie between 35°
- 60° .
 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.
Source of error :
1. pin pricks may be thick.
2. Measurement of angle may be wrong.

For successfully completing my project file. I have

taken help from the following websites links and
book :
 Class XII physics lab manual.
 www.google.com
 www.wikipedia.com