AIM

To investigate the dependence

of the angle of deviation on the
angle of incidence using a
hollow prism filled, one by one,
with different transparent fluid

APPARATUS
Drawing board
White sheets of paper
Hollow prism
Different liquids (water, glycerin, spirits
etc.)
Drawing pins
Pencil
Half metre scale
Thumb pins
Graph papers
A protractor

THEORY
Refraction of Light Through a Prism
Diagram shows section of ABC of a prism taken by a
vertical plane, perpendicular to the edge. BC is the base of
the prism and AB and AC are its two refracting surfaces.

RQ is the incident ray.

QS is the refracted ray.
ST is the emergent ray.
RQN1 = i = angle of incidence
SQN3 = r1 = angle of refraction inside the prism
QSN3 = r2 = angle of incidence inside the prism

TSN2 = e = angle of emergence

BAC = A = angle of prism
SFK = D = angle of deviation
In QFS, SFK = FQS + FSQ
D = (i r1) + (e r2)
D = i + e (r1 + r2)
In N2QR, QN2R + r1 + r2 = 180
(2)

...(1)
...

The quadrilateral AQN3S is a cyclic quadrilateral, then

A + QN3S = 180
From (2) and (3)
A = r1 + r2
Eq. (1) become
D=i+eA
D+A=i+e
Angle of Minimum Deviation

...(3)

(a) Definition. The minimum value of angle of

deviation, is called angle of minimum deviation. It
is represented by the symbol Dm.
(b) Explanation. For the same angle of deviation (D)
there are two value 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 a large value and angle of deviation decreases.
When the 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 r 1 sin r 2

Hence, at minimum deviation, when r1 = r2 = r (say).

We have

A = r1 + r2 = r + r = 2r or

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

From relation,

A+D=i+e
A + Dm
2
A
sin
2

sin

We have

n=

r = A/2

This relation is useful for determination of n for prism

material.

PROCEDURE

i. Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing board with

the help of drawing pins.
ii. Draw a straight line XX parallel to the length of the
paper nearly in the middle of the paper.
iii. Mark points Q1, Q2, Q3, on the straight line XX at
suitable distances of about 5 cm.
iv. Draw normals N1Q1, N2Q2, N3Q3, on points Q1, Q2,
Q3, as shown in the diagram.

v.

vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.

x.
xi.
xii.

xiii.
xiv.

Draw straight lines R1Q1, R2Q2, R3Q3, making

angles of 30, 40, 50, 60 respectively with the
normals.
Mark one corner of the prism as A and take it as edge
of the prism for all the observations.
Put it prism with its refracting face AB in the XX
and point Q1 in the middle of AB.
Mark the boundary of the prism.
Fix two or more office pin P1 and P2 vertically on the
line R1Q1. The distance between the pins should be
10mm or more.
Look the images of point P1 and P2 through face AC.
Close your left eye and bring open right eye in line
with the two images.
Fix two office pins P3 and P4 vertically and 10 cm
apart such that the open right eye sees pins P4 and P3
and images of P2 and P1 in one straight line.
Remove pins P3 and P4 and encircle their pricks on
the paper,
Repeat steps vii to xiii with point Q2, Q3, for
different angles of incidence.

To measure D in different cases

xv. Draw straight lines through points P4 and P3 to obtain
emergent rays S1T1, S2T2, S3T3,

xvi. Produce T1S1, T2S2, T3S3, inward in the boundary

of the prism to meet produced incident rays R1Q1,
R2Q2, R3Q3, at points F1, F2, F3,
xvii. Measure angles K1F1S1, K2F2S2, K3F3S3, These
give angle of deviation D1, D2, D3,
xviii. Write values of these angles on the paper.
To measure A
xix. Measure BAC in the boundary of the prism. This
gives A.
xx. Record the observations.

OBSERVATIONS

Angle of hollow prism A = 60

S.
No.

Angle of
incidence
i

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

35
40
45
50
55

Angle of
deviation
D for
water
25
24
23
25
26

Angle of Angle of
deviation deviatio
for spirits
n for
glycerin
29
39
26
38
25
35
27
40
28
41

CALCULATIONS

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. The graphs will
be similar to as shown below. From the graphs find the
value of angle of minimum deviation Dm corresponding to
the lowest point of the graphs

The refraction index of the transparent medium is,

A + Dm
)
2
A
sin
2

sin (
n=

The speed of light in a transparent medium is,

v=

C
n

where speed of light in air C= 3 x 108 m/s.

For water:
60+23
)
2
60
sin
2

sin (
n=

sin 41.5
sin 30

0.6626
0.5

= 1.3252

= 3 x 108 / 1.3252 = 2.26 x 108 m/s

For spirit:
60+25
)
2
60
sin
2

sin (
n=

sin 42.5
sin 30

0.6756
0.5

= 1.3512

= 3 x 108 / 1.3512 = 2.22 x 108 m/s

For glycerin:

60+35
)
2
60
sin
2

sin (
n=

sin 47.5
sin 30

0.7372
0.5

= 1.4744

= 3 x 108 / 1.4744 = 2.03 x 108 m/s

RESULTS

1. The i-D graph indicates that as the angle of incidence

(i) increases, the angle of deviation (D) first decreases,
attains a minimum value (Dm) and then again start
increasing for further increase in angle of incidence.
2. The angle of minimum deviation for
(a) Water, Dm = 23
(b) Spirits, Dm = 25
(c) Glycerin, Dm = 35
3. The refractive indeces of
(a) Water, n = 1.3252
(b) Spirits, n = 1.3512
(c) Glycerin, n = 1.4744
4. Speed of light in
(a) Water, v = 2.26 x 108 m/s
(b) Spirits, v = 2.22 x 108 m/s
(c) Glycerin, v = 2.03 x 108 m/s

PRECAUTIONS

1. The angle of incidence should lie between 35-60.

2. The pins should be fixed vertical.
3. The distance between the two pins should
not be less than 10mm.
4. Arrow heads should be marked to
represent the incident and emergent rays.
5. The same angle of prism should be used
for all the observations.

SOURCES OF ERRORS

1. Pin pricks may be thick.

2. Measurement of angles may be wrong.