Experiment name: To determine the refractive index of a liquid by pin method using a plane mirror and a convex lens.

Theory: If a convex lens is placed on a few drops of liquid on a plane mirror, then on squeezing the liquid into the space between the mirror and the lens a Plano-concave liquid lens is formed. The curved surface of this liquid lens has the same radius of curvature as the surface of the convex lens with which it is in contact. Thus we have a combination of two lenses- one of glass and the other of liquid, which behaves as a convergent lens. If F be the focal length of the combination then we have the relation, = + ..(1) Where f1 and f2 are the focal lengths of the convex lens and the liquid lens respectively. Correcting for the sign of f2 which is negative, we get, or, = = - .(2)

Determining F and f1 experimentally, we can calculate f2 from relation (2). The focal length f2 of the plano-concave liquid lens is also given by the relation = (-1) or, = =(-1) (r= , the lower face of the liquid lens being a plane)

or =1+ ..(3)

where is the refractive index of the liquid. finding r, the radius of curvature of the lower surface of the convex lens i.e., the surface in contact with the liquid and knowing f2 from relation(2), the refractive index of the liquid can be found out by using relation (3). Procedure: The experimental procedure may be divided into three parts: a) Determination of the focal length f of the convex lens. b) Determination of the focal length of the combination. c) Measurement of the radius of the curvature of that surface of the convex lens which is in contact with the liquid. a) Determination of the focal length f of the convex lens: For the measurement of the focal length () of the convex lens place a plane mirror M on the table with its reflecting face upwards (fig 1). Place the lens L over the plane mirror M and clap a pin, whose tip should be painted red, horizontally on a vertical stand in such a way that the tip of the pin is

visible. Now find the position of the pin by moving it up or down so that there is no parallax between P & P i.e. the image of the tip and the tip itself .Measure the distance PL between the tip of the pin and the centre of the lens. In order to measure PL first measure the distance h1 between the pin tip and the upper surface of the lens near its middle by a meter scale. Then remove the lens and measure its thickness t with a pair of slide callipers. PL is equal to h1+ b) Determination of the focal length of the combination: After determining the focal length of the convex lens carefully introduce a few drops of the liquid, whose refractive index is to be determined, into the air film between the plane mirror and the lens. The liquid will then be squeezed into the space between them by capillary action and a plano-concave lens of the liquid will be formed (fig:2).The combination of the liquid lens and the convex lens behaves as a convergent lens. c) Determination of the radius of the curvature: Remove the lens, wipe it dry with the help of a spherometer, measure the radius of curvature (r) of the surface of the lens which was in contact with the liquid in the manner described below: Determine the value of the smallest division of the vertical scale of the spherometer. Rotate the screw by its milled head for a complete turn and observe how far the disc advance or recedes with respect to the vertical scale. This distance is the pitch of the spherometer. Divide the pitch by number of divisions in the circular scale. This gives the least count of the instrument. Place the spherometer upon a piece of plane glass plate (base plate) and slowly turn the screw so that the tip of the central leg just touches the surface of the glass. When this is the case, a slight movement of the screw in the same direction makes the spherometer legs develop a tendency to slip over the plate. Take the reading of the main scale nearest to the edge of the disc. Take also the reading of the circular head against the linear scale. Tabulate the results. Now raise the central screw and place the spherometer on that surface of the convex lens which was in contact with the liquid. Turn the screw slowly till it just touches the surface of the lens. Note the reading of both the linear and circular scales. Let the difference of this reading and the reading on the base plate be h. Finally, place the spherometer upon a piece of paper and slightly press it so that the three legs leave three dots on the paper. Measure the distance between these marks individually with a divider referred to a vernier scale. Let these reading be a. Then the radius of curvature of the surface of the lens is given by,

R=

Apparatus: An equi-convex lens pin with its tip painted red, spherometer, slide callipers, stand and some experiment liquid.

Experimental data: A) Calculation of the least count: Main scale is graduated in millimeters. Pitch of the micrometer screw, P =---------------mm =---------------cm No. of divisions in the circular scale, n =---------------Least count (L.C) of the instrument = =-----------------cm

B) Measurement of h:

Table
Reading no. No. of obs. Linear scale reading (cm) 1 Base plate 2 3 1 Lens surface 2 3 Circular scale division n Least count Fractional reading nL.C (cm) Total Mean

(cm)

(cm)

(cm)

Now, h = Reading on lens-Reading on the base plate =----------------------cm

C) Measurement of a:

i) -----------------cm

ii) -------------------cm

iii) -------------------cm

Mean value of a =-----------------cm Hence, the radius of curvature of the spherical surface, r = + =---------cm

D) Measurement the thickness of the lens, t Vernier constant of the slide callipers =--------------------mm =--------------------cm

Table
No of obs. M.S reading a (cm) 1 2 3 V.S Reading Excess by vernier b (cm) Thickness t=(a+b) Mean of t=(a+b)

(cm)

(cm)

E) Determination of the focal lengths:

Table
No of obs. Distance between the pin & the face of the lens without the liquid, h Focal length of the convex lens =h+ Mean Distance between the pin& the top surface of the lens with the liquid h2 Focal length of the combination F=h2+ Mean F Focal length of the liquid lens 2=

(cm) 1 2 3

(cm)

(cm)

(cm)

(cm)

(cm)

(cm)

Calculation: Refractive index of the liquid, =1+ =------------

Result: Refractive index of the given liquid is -----------------.