Physics Project
LIQUID LENS
SUMESH SHENOY S| REFRACTIVE INDEX OF LIQDS| 2018-2019
AIM
To determine the refractive index of
1. The material of a lens and
2. Glycerin
(Water of refractive index 1.33 is given)
1.1 SIGNIFICANCE OF PH IN AQUA CULTURE
The recommended pH for aqua-culture is 6.5-9. Fish and other vertebrates have an
average blood pH of 7.4. Fish blood comes into close contact with water i.e. One or
two cell separations as it passes through blood vessels of gills and skins. A
desirable range for pond water PH would be close to the fish blood (7-8). Fish may
come stressed or die if the pH drops below 5 or rises above 10
PAGE 1
APPARATUS
1. A convex lens
2. 10 ml glycerin
3. Water
4. Plane mirror
5. Retort stand etc.
PAGE 2
THEORY
Refractive index of the material of the lens is given by
𝑅1𝑅2
𝑛𝑔 = 1 + [ ]
𝑓(𝑅1 + 𝑅2)
Refractive index of the liquid is given by
𝑟1
𝑛𝑙 = 1 +
𝑟2
If fw is the focal length of water lens formed between
the plane and the first surface of the lens, then
1 1
= (𝑛𝑤 − 1) ×
𝑓𝑤 𝑅1
1 1
= 0.33 ×
𝑓𝑤 𝑅1
𝑅1 = 0.33 × 𝑓𝑤
If fw` is the focal length of the ‘water lens’ formed
between the plane mirror and the second surface of the
lens, the
𝑅2 = 0.33 × 𝑓𝑤`
PAGE 3
PROCEDURE
The focal length (f) of the convex lens and the liquid
lens (f1) are determined.
I. To find the focal length of the convex lens.
The convex lens is placed over a plane mirror
which is kept horizontally. A bright pointer O is
arranged horizontally on the clamp of a retort
stand, vertically above the lens. Looking from
above the pointer is moved up or down until the
pointer and its inverted image coincide without
parallax. The distance x1 and x2 on the pointer
from the top of the lens and from the mirror are
measured. The average distance (x1+x2)/2 gives the
focal length f of the convex lens. The experiment
is repeated and the mean focal length is
calculated.
II. To find the focal length of the liquid lens
The lens is then removed. A few drops of glycerin
is placed on the plane mirror. The lens is placed
PAGE 4
on it with the liquid in contact with the liquid.
The liquid forms a Plano concave lens.
The pointer is arranged horizontally above the
lens. Looking from above, the pointer is moved up
or down until the pointer and its inverted image
coincide without parallax. The distance x1 of the
pointer from the top of the lens and x2 from the
mirror are measured as before. The average
distance(x1+x2)/2 gives the focal length F of the
combination of the convex lens and the liquid
lens. The focal length f1 is calculated from the
equation
𝐹𝑓
𝑓1 =
𝑓−𝐹
III. A few drops of water is placed on the plane mirror
and the lens is placed on it with the marked first
face in contact with water. Water forms a Plano-
concave lens. Looking from above the pin is
moved up or down until the tip of the pin and the
image coincide without parallax. The distance of
the pin from the top of the lens and from top of
the mirror are measured. The average distance
gives the focal length F of the combination. The
focal length fw of the Plano-concave ‘water lens’ is
calculated from the equation
PAGE 5
𝐹𝑓
𝑓𝑤 =
𝑓−𝐹
The radius of curvature of the first surface of the
lens is calculated by the equation
𝑅1 = 0.33 × 𝑓𝑤
IV. The experiment is repeated with the second face
of the lens in contact with the water and the focal
length F` of the combination is determined as
explained above. The focal length fw` of the Plano-
concave ‘water lens’ is calculated.
𝐹`𝑓
𝑓𝑤 =
𝑓 − 𝐹`
Therefore, 𝑅2 = 0.33 × 𝑓𝑤
V. The refractive index of the lens ng and the liquid nl
is calculated by the equations
𝑅1𝑅2
𝑛𝑔 = 1 + [ ]
𝑓(𝑅1 + 𝑅2)
𝑅1
𝑛𝑙 = 1 +
𝑓1
PAGE 6
RESULT
Refractive index of the material of the lens =
Refractive index of the liquid =
PAGE 7
OBSERVATIONS
1) To find the focal length (f) of the convex lens
Trial Distance of the pin from Focal length
the top of the table of the lens
Convex lens Mirror 𝑥1 + 𝑥2
𝑓=
X1 (cm) X2(cm) 2
(cm)
1
2
3
Mean f=….cm
PAGE 8
2) To find the focal length of the combination (F) i.e.
convex lens over the glycerin drops
Trial Distance of the pin from Focal length
the top of the table of the lens
Convex lens Mirror 𝑥1 + 𝑥2
𝐹=
X1 (cm) X2(cm) 2
(cm)
1
2
3
Mean F=….cm
𝐹𝑓
𝑓1 =
𝑓−𝐹
3) To find R1 and R2 of the convex lens water drops
Reading Trial Distance Focal length Mean focal
taken from the of the length of
with tip of combination the
combination
First F=
surface
PAGE 9
of the
lens in
contact
with
the
water
Second F`=
surface
in
contact
with
the
water
CALCULATIONS
𝐹𝑓
𝑓𝑤 = =
𝑓−𝐹
𝐹`𝑓
𝑓𝑤` = =
𝑓 − 𝐹`
𝑅1 = 0.33 × 𝑓𝑤 =
𝑅2 = 0.33 × 𝑓𝑤` =
𝑅1𝑅2
𝑛𝑔 = 1 + [ ]=
𝑓 (𝑅1 + 𝑅2)
PAGE 10
𝑅1
𝑛𝑙 = 1 +
𝑓1
PAGE 11
