LABORATORY MANUAL

EXPERIMENT 15
AIM
To determine the refractive index of a liquid (water) using (i) concave
mirror, (ii) convex lens and a plane mirror.
(i) Refractive index of water using concave mirror

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

Concave mirror of small aperture and large focal length, water, a
laboratory stand with rigid base and clamp arrangement (height of
the stand must be more than double the focal length of the given
concave mirror), a pin, a metre scale, a spirit level, a plumb line, and
some small cork pieces.

PRINCIPLE
When an object is
placed in front of
the reflecting
surface of a
concave mirror
MM′ at a distance
equal to its radius
of curvature R, a
real and inverted
image is formed
at the centre of
curvature, i.e., u =
v = R = distance
PC; P being the
pole of the mirror
[Fig. E15.1 (a)].
Thus the centre of
curvature C of a
concave mirror
Fig. E 15.1 Formation of image A′B′ of an object AB by a concave mirror MM′
placed at its centre of curvature. (a) Mirror without water and can be located by
(b) Mirror with some water the method of
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a sharp-edged pin and its real and inverted image formed by a

concave mirror.
Fig. E 15.1(b) shows the location of centre of curvature C′ when
the mirror is partially filled with some transparent liquid
(say water). In this case the parallax between the object pin
and image of the pin would be removed at a shorter distance
from the pole P of the mirror. The incident ray C′N is refracted
at the water -air boundary along the path NM such that it
falls normally on the curved reflecting surface at point M.
The reflected ray retraces back on the same path along MN
in water and meets the axis at C along NC, when produced.
In air, actually the reflected ray travels along NC′. Thus the
real and inverted image is formed at C′. Therefore the
distance PC′ would be the apparent radius of curvature R′ of
the water-filled concave mirror.
Fig. E 15.1(b) shows the refraction of incident ray C′N in water. Let
ZZ′ be the normal at the water surface. ∠ZNC′ and ∠ZNC are the
angles of incidence i and refraction r, respectively. From geometrical
arguments, it is clear that ∠i = ∠NC′P and ∠r = ∠NCP. Thus, the
refractive index of water with respect to air n wa can be given as:

NP'
sin i NC' = NC
n wa = =
sin r NP' NC'
NC
For a mirror having very small aperture and large radius of
curvature, distances NC and NC′ can be approximated as distances
PC and P′C′, respectively. Further, if only a little quantity of water is
taken in the mirror, then distance PP′ can be neglected in comparison
to PC or PC′. Thus

PC R
n wa = =
PC' R '
Thus, using this method the refractive index of any transparent liquid
can be determined.

P
ROCEDURE
1. Obtain approximate value of focal length of the concave
mirror by focussing the image of a distant object. It can be
found by obtaining a sharp image of the Sun or a tree on a
plane wall or on a sheet of paper, and measuring the
distance between the mirror and image with a scale. This
distance is an approximate value of the focal length f, of the
concave mirror. Twice of this focal length is an approximate value
of the radius of curvature of the mirror.

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Note: Do not look at the Sun’s image in a concave mirror as it

may hurt your eyes.

2. Place the given concave mirror on the base of a firm and stable
laboratory stand keeping its reflecting surface upwards. Use
a spirit level to ensure that the plane on which the mirror rests
is horizontal. It makes the principal axis of the mirror vertical.
Some pieces of paper, plasticine or cork may be used to keep
the position of mirror stable on the stand.

3. Fix a sharp edged bright pin in the clamp and place it horizontally
just above the mirror. Adjust the position of the pin such that its
tip B lies just above the pole P of the mirror or lies on the principal
axis of the mirror.

4. Shift the clamped pin to a distance roughly equal to twice the

rough focal length of the concave mirror (obtained in step 1) from
the pole P of the mirror placed on the laboratory stand. Once
again verify that the tip of the pin and pole P lie along the same
vertical line (principal axis of the mirror).

5. Adjust the position of the pin till the parallax between the tip of
the pin and its inverted image is removed.

6. Measure the vertical distance between the tip of the pin and the
mirror using a plumb line and metre scale. This distance would
be the real radius of curvature of the mirror.

7. Pour some water on the curved surface of the mirror.

8. Lower the pin slowly, till once again the parallax between the tip
of the pin and its inverted image formed by the water-filled mirror
is removed.

9. Remove water from the mirror and measure the vertical distance
between the tip of the pin and the mirror. This distance would
be the apparent radius of curvature of the water-filled mirror.

10. Repeat the experiment (steps 2 to 9) atleast two more times.

O BSERVATIONS
1. Approximate value of the focal length of the concave mirror,
f = ... cm.
2. Approximate value of the radius of curvature, R = 2f = ... cm.
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Table E 15.1: Observations for R, R′ and nwa

Sl. No. Position of pin with respect to pole P nwa= ∆n wa

R/R ′
For empty concave For water - filled
mirror, distance PC mirror, distance PC′
R (cm) R ′ (cm)
1
2
3
Mean

C
ALCULATIONS
Calculate n wa and its mean value.
Error

∆nwa ∆R ∆R'
= +
nwa R R'

∆R ∆R '
∴ ∆n wa = + n wa
R R'

R ESULT
The refractive index of water with respect to air is nwa ± ∆nwa = .... ± ....
nwa is mean value and ∆nwa is the maximum of the three values of error.

P
RECAUTIONS
1. Pin should be kept horizontal and above the curved reflecting
surface of the horizontally placed concave mirror such that the
tip of the pin lies above the pole of the mirror on its vertical
principal axis.
2. Aperture of mirror should be small.
3. The mirror should be very thin otherwise multiple reflections will
form an unclear image.
4. The quantity of water taken in the mirror should be sufficient so
that the water surface remains horizontal, or else the surface
may not remain horizontal because of surface tension.
5. Eye should be kept at a distance of more than 25 cm from the pin.

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S OURCES OF ERROR
The line joining PC may not be vertical.

D ISCUSSION
1. If the refractive index of water is determined using concave mirrors
of different radii of curvature, how will this affect the values of
the refractive index?
2. A plumb line may be used to find the accurate value of PC and
PC′. How can plumb line ensure correct measurement?

S ELF ASSESSMENT
1. Find the refractive index of water from this experiment considering
that a concave mirror filled with water behaves as a combination
of concave mirror and a plano-convex lens.
2. If you gradually increase the quantity of water in the mirror,
starting with a few drops, do you expect any change in the position
or brightness of the image?
3. If colours are added to water keeping its transparency, would
this alter the value of refractive index and intensity of the image?
4. If a small quantity of some transparent liquid (like kerosene) lighter
than water is added such that it forms a thin film on the water
surface; can the experiment still be performed? If so, would the
value of refractive index change?

SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL EXPERIMENTS/ACTIVITIES

1. Determine the refractive indices of different liquids (white vinegar, kerosene,

glycerine, cooking oil).

2. Take a table lamp. Covering it with cellophane paper of various colours,

determine the refractive index of a liquid (say, water) using a concave mirror.
Do you observe any change in the value of refractive index of the liquid?

3. Study the variation in the refractive index of salt/sugar solution by changing

its concentration.

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(ii) Refractive index of water using convex lens and a plane mirror

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

Double convex lens (focal length nearly 20 cm), plane mirror (bigger
in size than the aperture of the lens), laboratory stand fixed with a
pin in clamp, metre scale, plumb line, water dropper.

PRINCIPLE
In this method, a real and inverted image coincides with the object
placed on the principal focus point of a convex lens. The rays from a
pin AB placed on the principal focus F of a convex lens emerges out
parallel to its axis. When these rays fall normally on a plane mirror
placed horizontally below the convex lens, they retrace their path
and form a real and inverted image A′ B′ at the principal focal plane
of the lens [Fig. E 15.2(a)]. The size of image A′ B′ is equal to the size
of object pin AB and the tip of the pin gives the position of the second
principal focus. Then f (OF) is the focal length of the convex lens (for
a thin lens) where O is the optical centre of the lens.

F
A' B' B A

OF = f

Plane mirror
(a)
Fig. E 15.2 Image formed by a equiconvex lens backed by a plane mirror coinciding with the
object AB. (a) A′ B′ when there is air in between the lens and the mirror; and (b) A″ B″
when there is water in between the lens and mirror
Now, if the space between the lens and the plane mirror is filled with a
transparent liquid (say water) having refractive index n wa, and the
above procedure is repeated to find the position of the principal focus
F in the new situation then the distance between the optical centre O
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of the lens and point F′, OF′ (say f ′) would be the focal length of the
combination of the two lenses. The combination consists of a glass
convex lens (radius of curvature of both the curved surfaces are same,
R and a water plano-concave lens of same radius of curvature, R. The
focal length fw of water lens can be determined from the relation
between the three focal lengths. viz. f′, f, and fw, i.e.,

(E 15.1) 1 1 1
= +
f′ f fw

1 f – f′
(E 15.2) =
fw f f′
But with sign convention : f = + ve, f ′ = + ve one finds fw = – ve

f f′
fw = f − f′

Also, from the lens maker’s formula for a plano-concave lens

1 1
(E 15.3) = (n wa − 1)
fw R

f f′
Thus, R = (n wa − 1)
f − f′
Hence,
 R 
(E 15.4) n wa = 1 + 
 fw 
Following the procedure given in the Labratory Manual of Physics
Class XI, (NCERT) Experiment-3, the radius of curvature R of the
spherical surfaces of the convex lens (using a spherometer) can be
determined, and Eq. 15.4 can be utilised for calculating n wa.
Therefore, by using this method, the refractive index of a transparent
liquid can be determined.

P
ROCEDURE
1. Place the plane mirror on the base of a rigid laboratory stand
keeping its reflecting surface upwards.
2. Place the convex lens on the plane mirror.
3. Fix a sharp-edged bright pin in the clamp and place it horizontally
and above the lens. Adjust the position of the pin such that its tip
B lies vertically above the optical centre of the convex lens. A plumb
line and a spirit level may be used to achieve this.
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4. Shift the clamped pin gradually upward looking at the image and
bring it to a height such that the tip B of the pin exactly coincides
with the tip of its image B′. Ensure that there is no parallax
between the object pin and its image. Measure the distance OF
[Fig. E 15.2(a)]. For this, observe the distances of the pin from the
upper and lower surfaces of the lens and take OF = f as the average
of these two distances.
5. With the help of a dropper, put a few drops of water under the lens
so that the space between mirror and lens is filled with water.
6. Move the object pin upward and remove the parallax
between the tip of the object pin and its image for med
by the lens mirror system. Measure the distance OF′
[Fig. E 15.2(b)]. Here again, as before, measure the distances
of the pin from the two surfaces of the lens and take OF′ = f ′
as their average.
7. Repeat the experiment and record your observations in Table 15.2.

O
BSERVATIONS
1. Mean value of distance between the two legs of the spherometer
l = ...cm
2. Mean value of sagitta (bulge of the lens) h = ...cm
3. Mean value of the radius of curvature of the lens R = ...cm

Table15.2 : Focal length of convex lens, OF (= f ) and water

plano-convex lens OF′′ (= f ′ )

Sl. Position of pin with respect to optical centre f f′ ∆ fw n wa ∆n wa

fw =
No. O f – f′

Without water (OF =f ) With water (OF′ =f′ )

Distance of the pin from Distance of the pin from

Upper Plane d + d Upper Plane d + d
1 2 3 4
surface mirror surface mirror
of the 2 of the 2
lens lens
d1 (cm) d2 (cm) f (cm) d3 (cm) d4 (cm) f′ (cm)
1
2
3
Mean

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C ALCULATIONS

R
n wa = 1 +
fw

Error

∆n wa ∆R ∆f w
= +
nwa R fw
∆R ∆f w
or ∆nwa = nwa +
R fw

*
 2 ∆l 2 ∆h 
where ∆R = R  +
 l h 

We use Eq. 15.1 for finding the value of ∆fw.

∆f w ∆f ∆f ′
2
= 2
+ 2
f w f f′

2 ∆f ∆f ′
or, ∆f w = f w 2
+ 2
f f′
Note that ∆l, ∆h, ∆f and ∆f′ represent least count of the measuring
scale.

R ESULT
The refractive index of a given liquid (say water) with respect to air is
n wa + ∆nwa =...± ....
Here, nwa is mean value and ∆n wa is the maximum of three values of
error.

P RECAUTIONS
1. Pin should be kept horizontal and its tip should be above the optical
centre of the lens on its vertical principal axis otherwise it will be
difficult to remove the parallax.
2. The thin lens should be used so that the distance measured from
its surface is nearly equal to the distance measured from the

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* Please refer Laboratory Manual Class XI (NCERT) Experiment-3.

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optical centre. Still it is better to measure distance from both the

surfaces and take the average for f or f ′.
3. Water should be gently put between the mirror and the lens surface
with the help of a dropper so that it may fill up the air space
between them without disturbing the position of the lens.

S
OURCES OF ERROR
1. Two surfaces of the convex lens may not have the same radius of
curvature.
2. The plane mirror may not be horizontal.

D ISCUSSION
1. Convex lens used should be thin. How will the result change if a
thick lens is used?
2. How is a plumb line effective in ensuring that the rays retrace
their path after refraction through the lens and reflection from
the mirror? Draw suitable diagram with principal axis at an angle
to the vertical, showing the plane mirror at an angle to the
horizontal.

S
ELF ASSESSMENT
1. What will happen if you are given a convex lens of small focal
length?
2. What are the basic assumptions you have made in performing
this experiment?
3. Why do we have to raise the object pin upward after filling water
between the lens and the mirror?

SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL EXPERIMENTS/ACTIVITIES

1. Find out refractive index of any other transparent liquid using this method.
2. Study the effect of change in concentration of a solution taken in between
the lens and mirror on the refractive index of the solution.

3. Measure the focal length of the given convex lens using a plane mirror. Now
replace the plane mirror with a convex mirror of the same curvature, and
repeat the experiment to find the focal length of the lens. Draw a suitable
ray diagram.

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