N

P
10
D
T77

M B

R
X

Y
(a)
Measurement
curvature by a
of radius of
spherometer
 DIAGRAM THEORY ApARATUS

See where The plate A

Fig. radius
spherometer, To
of determine
AND
4.2 h= = about
above. Sagitta threetipsofThe of MATERIAL
curvature cmx6 a
6
mean
spherical radius
i.e.,
cm.REQUIRED
the length Rof of
outer
legs
height surface curvature
of a
spherical
of the
the three such of
central
sides surface as given a
XPERIMENT E
a
screw of
watch
the(convex spherical
above glass
equilateral
or or
or concave) surface
below convex a
triangle
by
the is a
plane formed given
mirror
spherometer.
of by and
the by : a
outer joiningR=+" plane
legs.
the
6h
2
h glass
A4
 PROCEDURE

To find the pitch

1. Note the value of one small division on the pitch scale.
2. Bring the zero mark of the circular scale against a division mark on the pitch scale.
3. Give hour complete rotations to the serew and find the distance moved by it on the pitch scale.
4. Calculate the pitch of the serew as follows :
Pitch =
Distance moved by the screw on the pitch scale
Or
Number of rotations of the circular scale
To find the least count
5. Note the total number of divisions on the circular scale, then

Least count = Pitch of the screw

Total number of divisions on the circular scale
To find mean length A

6. Screw up the central leg of the spherometer and place it on a

sheet of white paper (or on a page in practical notebook). Press
it lightly and take the impressions of the tips of the three outer
legs. Mark the positions of these points by drawing small circles
around them. Join these points to form the equilateral AABC. B4
Measure the length of each side of the triangle very accurately Fig. 4.3 Pricks of the legs
and calculate the mean distance lbetween two
spherometer legs. of the spherometer.
NOTE Great care must be taken in the measurement of length 1. In the determination of radius of
curvature R, the term 1is used. Any error made in the measurement of l will get doubled in calculations.
7. Set the convex mirror firmly on a
COCCCCC
Central screw
horizontal surface. Place the spherometer
on the convex surface after raising its
central screw sufficiently upwards so that -Spherometer legs
the three outer legs may rest well on the
convex surface, as shown in Fig. 4.4.
8. Rotate the central screw till it gently
touches the convex surface. The correct
position will be that in which the Given spherical
surface
spherometer will just begin to rotate about Glass plate
its central leg. Read the circular scale
division coincident with the pitch scale. Fig. 4.4 Measurement of sagitta h.
9. Remove the spherometer from the convex surface and place it on a plane glass
plate (or
glass slab). Turn the screw in the downward direction till it just touches the plane surface.
Note the number of complete rotations 1, 2, 3, etc., and the number of additional scale
divisions which have to be moved to bring the central leg in contact with the plane surface.
Let the number of complete rotations be m and the number of additional circular scale
divisions moved be n From this, we determine the sagitta h of the convexX surface.
10. Repeat steps 8and 9 three more times by moving the central leg every time in
upward
direction through a sufficiently large distance compared to the value of h and rotating the
convex surface leaving its centre undisturbed. Find the mean value of h.
NOTE or a concave surface, take the reading by placing the spherometer first on the plane glass plate and
then on the concave surface so that we can always make use of the
clockwise movement of the screw.
 LAB MANUAL PHYSICS-XI

OBSERVATIONS
A. For determination of length l from equilateral AABC
(iii) Distance CA=
(i) Distance AB= Cm (ii) Distance BC= Cm

AB+ BC+CA
Mean l=. Cm
3

B. For pitch and least count of the spherometer

(i) Value of smallest division on the vertical pitch scale
mm

(ii) Number of rotations given to the circular scale, x=

(iiil) Linear distance moved by the screw in x rotations, y= mm

Linear distance moved by the screw

(iv) Pitch
Number of rotations given to the circular scale
p= mm

(v) Total number of divisions on the circular scale, N=

Pitch of the spherometer screw
(vi) Least count of the spherometer, LC=
Number of divisions on the circular scale
C. For measurement of sagitta h

Table: Spherometer readings for sagitta h of convex surface

Number of Number of additional
S.No. Sagitta
complete rotations circular divisions moved h=mx pitch + nx LC
m
1
(mm)
2 h
3.
4.

Mean value of h= h +h, +h +hy mm Cm

4

CALCULATIONS
Radius of curvature of the convex mirror is
given by R=+ Cm
6h 2
RESULT
Radius of curvature of the given
convex mirror, R= Cm
PRECAUTIONS
1. Examine that the
2. There should be
vertical pitch scale and the outer three
legs of the
central screw and the nut spherometer
no play between the are not shaky.
3. The sizes of the in
the three legs of convex mirror and the plane glass plate which it rotates.
4. In order to
the
spherometer can rest on them should be sufficiently large so tnat
avoid the backlash error, the easily.
direction. circular disc must always be
rotated in the same
48
 Chopter 4: SPHEROMETER

ln case of a convex mirror, the spherometer should beplaced first on the convex surface and
then on the plane surface. In case of a concave mirror, the spherometer should be placed first
On
plane surtace and then on concave surface. This will ensure the rotation of the central
screw in the same direction.
5. The reading should be noted when the spherometer just begins to rotate about the central leg.
6. The additional circular scale divisions turned should be counted carefully.
7. The impressions of the tips of the outer three legs of the spherometer should be taken care
fully and pricksshould be encircled and joined immediatelyafter removing the spherometer.
8. The distance lbetween any two fixed legs of the spheromneter should be measured accurately
because I occurs as 1 in the formula for R. A small error in the measurement of l will
introduce large error in the determination of R.
SoURCES OF ERROR

1. A slight error may occur in judging the contact of the tip of the screw with the
plane/spherical surface.
2. Due to some play between the screw and the nut, the backlash error may occur.
3. The divisions on the circular scale may not be uniform.
4. Parallax error may occur while reading the pitch scale corresponding to the level of the
circular scale.

DiSCUSSION

1. The radius of curvature of a spherical surface, R=+

6h 2

As R depends on 1,so 1% error in the measurement of lwill introduce 2% error in the

determination ofR.
2. For a spherical surface of large radius of curvature, the term h/2 is small and it can be safely
neglected as compared to 1/6h.
R will be in cm.
3. The values of land R must be taken in same units (say cm), then the value of