Experiment: To Determine the Refractive

Indices of Water and Transparent Oil

Introduction
Light is an essential aspect of our understanding of the physical
world. The phenomenon of refraction—where light changes
direction and speed when it passes from one medium to another
—provides valuable insight into the optical properties of
materials. This experiment aims to determine the refractive
indices of two liquids, water and transparent oil, using an
equiconvex lens made from glass (whose refractive index is
known), a plane mirror, and an adjustable object needle. By
exploring this property, we delve into a fundamental
characteristic of materials that is widely applied in optics and
engineering.
The refractive index (‘n’) of a material is defined as the ratio of
the speed of light in a vacuum (‘c’) to the speed of light in the
material (‘v’):
This ratio measures the optical density of the material relative to
a vacuum. A higher refractive index indicates that light travels
slower through the material, causing greater bending. In this
experiment, we measure the refractive indices of water and oil by
determining the focal lengths of an equiconvex lens when placed
in air and in these liquids. By applying simple mathematical
relationships, the refractive indices are calculated.

Aim
To calculate the refractive indices of water and transparent oil
using a plane mirror, an equiconvex lens of known refractive
index, and an adjustable object needle.
Apparatus Required
1. Equiconvex Lens:
o A symmetric lens convex on both sides, made of glass
with a known refractive index (e.g., ).
2. Plane Mirror:
o A flat, polished surface to reflect light, placed
horizontally beneath the lens.
3. Adjustable Object Needle:
o A sharp needle mounted on a stand for precise
alignment with the lens’s optical axis.
4. Clamp Stand:
o Used to securely hold the needle in a vertical position
during the experiment.
5. Liquids:
o Transparent liquids such as water and oil (e.g., castor
oil or paraffin oil).
6. Measuring Scale or Ruler:
o To measure distances such as the focal lengths of the
lens in different media.
7. Dropper:
o For adding controlled amounts of liquid onto the plane
mirror.
8. Vernier Calipers:
o To measure the physical dimensions of the lens (e.g., its
diameter and thickness).
 9. Soft Cloth or Tissue Paper:
o For cleaning the lens and mirror after use.
10. Pen and Paper:
o To record observations and calculations.

Theory
Refraction of Light
Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another
with different optical densities. The change in the speed of light
causes the bending of light rays, described mathematically by
Snell’s Law:
Where:
 and are the refractive indices of the two media.
 is the angle of incidence.
 is the angle of refraction.
When light enters a denser medium, it slows down and bends
toward the normal. When moving to a rarer medium, it speeds
up and bends away from the normal.
Lens and Refraction
Lenses exploit the refraction of light to converge or diverge light
rays. The equiconvex lens used in this experiment has two convex
surfaces with equal radii of curvature. When placed in a medium,
the focal length (‘f’) of the lens depends on the medium’s
refractive index. The refractive index of the liquid relative to the
glass lens can be calculated using the formula:
Where:
  is the refractive index of the liquid.
 is the refractive index of the glass lens.
 is the focal length of the lens in air.
 is the focal length of the lens in the liquid.

Lens Maker’s Formula

The focal length of a lens is also governed by the Lens Maker’s
Formula, which relates the refractive index of the lens material
and the radii of curvature of its surfaces to the focal length:
For an equiconvex lens:
 .
 The formula simplifies to:
This shows that the focal length depends on the refractive index
of the lens material and its geometry (radius of curvature).

Procedure
Step 1: Setup the Apparatus
1. Place the plane mirror on a flat surface.
2. Clean the equiconvex lens and the plane mirror using a soft
cloth.
3. Position the lens in the center of the plane mirror.
4. Mount the adjustable object needle vertically above the lens
using a clamp stand.
Step 2: Focal Length in Air
1. Adjust the needle so that its tip is along the principal axis of
the lens.
 2. Move the needle up or down until its image, reflected by the
mirror, coincides with the needle’s tip.
3. Ensure no parallax: the needle and its image should appear
stationary when viewed from different angles.
4. Measure the distance between the needle tip and the lens.
This distance is the focal length of the lens in air ().
Step 3: Focal Length in Liquid
1. Add a small drop of water to the plane mirror using a
dropper.
2. Place the equiconvex lens gently on the water drop, ensuring
contact.
3. Adjust the needle as in Step 2 to find the focal length of the
lens in water ().
4. Repeat the steps using transparent oil instead of water to
find .
5. Clean the lens and mirror after each measurement.

Diagram
Setup for Focal Length in Air
Setup for Focal Length in Liquid

Observations
Table of Observations
Focal Length Focal Length in Refractive
Liquid
in Air () Liquid () Index ()

Water

Transparent
Oil

Sample Calculations
For Water:
 Given: , , .
Repeat this calculation for oil.

Precautions
1. Clean all optical components before use.
2. Ensure proper alignment of the needle to avoid parallax
errors.
3. Avoid spilling liquids onto the lens.
4. Measure distances accurately.

Sources of Error
1. Imperfections in the lens or mirror.
2. Errors in aligning the needle and its image.
3. Variation in liquid thickness.
4. Human error in measurements.

Conclusion
The refractive indices of water and transparent oil were
successfully determined using the given setup. The experiment
demonstrates the principles of refraction and their applications in
optical analysis.