J Jose

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
TOPIC: 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 fluids.
Submitted by:-
J.JOSE
Class: XII-A
INTRODUCTION
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with

flat, polished surfaces that refracts light. The exact angles
between the surfaces depend on the application. The
traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a
triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use
“prism” usually refers to this type. Some types of optical prism
are not in fact in the shape of geometric prisms. Prisms can be
made from any material that is transparent to the wavelengths
for which they are designed. Typical materials include glass,
plastic and fluorite. Prism can be used to break light up into its
constituent spectral colors (the colors of the rainbow). Prisms
can also be used to reflect light, or to split light into
components with different polarizations.
Before Isaac Newton, it was believed that white light was
colorless, and that the prism itself produced the color.
Newton’s experiments demonstrated that all the colors already
existed in the light in a heterogeneous fashion, and that
“corpuscles” (particles) of light were fanned out because
particles with different colors traveled with different speeds
through the prism. It was only later that Young and Fresnel
combined Newton’s particle theory with Huygens’ wave theory
to show that color is the visible manifestation of light’s
wavelength. Newton arrived at his conclusion by passing the
red color from one prism through second prism and found the
color unchanged. From this, he concluded that the colors must
already be present in the incoming light and white light consists
of a collection of colors. As the white light passes through the
triangular prism, the light separates into the collection of
colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. This
collection of colors formed by the prism is called the spectrum.
The separation of white light into its spectrum is known as
dispersion.
Dispersion occurs because each color travels through the
prism at different speeds. Violet travels the slowest through the
prism; hence we can see it refracting the most. On the other
hand, red passes through at a much fast rate which makes its
angle of refraction less, hence red is too scarce to be seen.
EXPERIMENT
AIM: To investigate the dependence, of the angle of deviation
on the angle of incidence, using a hallow prism filled, one by
one, with different transparent fluids.
APPARATUS:
Drawing board, white sheets of paper, hollow prism, different
liquids (water, kerosene oil, etc), drawing pins, pencil, half
meter scale, thump pins, graph papers and a protractor.
THEORY:
Refraction of Light through a Prism –
Diagram shows section 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.
DIAGRAM: Refraction through a prism.

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 prism
QSN3 = r2 = angle of incidence inside prism
TSN2 = e = angle of emergence
BAC = A = angle of prism
SFK = D = angle of deviation
In QFS, KFS = FQS + FSQ
D = (i – r1) + (e – r2)
D = i + e – (r1 + r2)
… (1)
In QS1N3, r1 + r2 + QN3S = 180⁰
… (2)
The quadrilateral AQN3S is cyclic quadrilateral, then
A + QN3S = 180
… (3)
From (2) and (3)
A = r1 + r2
… (4) Eq. (1) become
D=i+e-A
D+A=i+e
… (5)
Angle of Minimum Deviation -
Definition: The minimum value of angle of deviation is
called angle of minimum deviation. It is represented by the
symbol Dm.
Explanation: For same angle of deviation (D) there are two
values 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 large value and angle of
deviation decreases. When 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
sin
∵n= sin r i
have r1 = r2. ( 1 = sinsinre )
2
Hence, at minimum deviation, when r1 = r2 = r (say).

We have A = r1 + r2 = r + r = 2r
A
⇒
r= 2
Also, at minimum deviation, D = Dm and i = e

From relation, A + D = i + e
We have, A + Dm = i + i = 2i
A+D
⇒
i= 2
m
From Snell’s law,

sini n = sinr
A+D
sin m
We have n= sinA
2
This relation is useful for determination of n for Prism material.

DIAGRAM:
DIAGRAM: Refraction through prism at different angles

PROCEDURE:
1.A white sheet of paper was fixed on the drawing board
with the help of drawing pins.
2.A straight line XX’ parallel to the length of the paper was
drawn nearly in the middle of the paper.
3.Points Q1,Q2,Q3 and Q4 were marked on the straight line XX’
at suitable distances of about 6cm.
4.Normal’s N1Q1,N2Q2,N3Q3 and N4Q4 were drawn on points
Q1,Q2,Q3 and Q4.
5.Straight lines R1Q1,R2Q2,R3Q3 and R4Q4 were drawn making
angles of 40⁰,45⁰,50⁰ and 55⁰ respectively with the
normals.
6.One corner of the prism was marked as A and it was taken
as the edge of the prism for all the observations.
7.Prism with its refracting face AB was put in the line XX’
and point Q1 was put in the middle of AB.
8.The boundary of the prism was marked.
9.Two pins P1 and P2 were fixed vertically on the line R1Q1 and
the distance between the pins were about 2cm.
10. The images of points P1 and P2 were looked through face
AC.
11. Left eye was closed and right eye was opened and was
brought in line with the two images.
12. Two pins P3 and P4 were fixed vertically at about 2cm
apart such that the open right eye sees pins P4 and P3 as
images of P2 and P1 in one straight line.
13. Pins P1,P2,P3 and P4 were removed and their pricks on
the paper were encircled.
14. Steps 7 to 13 were again repeated with points Q2,Q3 and
Q4 for i=45⁰,50⁰ and 55⁰.
15. Straight lines through points P4 and P3 were drawn to
obtain emergent rays S1T1, S2T2, S3T3 and S4T4.
16. T1S1,T2S2 ,T3S3 and T4S4 were produced inward in the
boundary of the prism to meet produced incident rays
R1Q1, R2Q2,R3Q3 and R4Q4 at points F1,F2,F3 and F4.
17. Angles K1F1S1,K2F2S2,K3F3S3 and K4F4S4 were measured.
These angles give angle of deviation D1, D2,D3 and D4.
18. Values of these angles were written on the paper.
19. Angle BAC was measured in the boundary of the prism.
This gives angle A.
20. Observations were recorded.
OBSERVATIONS:
Angle of hollow prism A = 60⁰

S.No. Angle Angle of Angle Angle of
of deviatio of deviatio
incidenc n for deviatio n for
e water n for turpenti
kerosen ne oil
e oil
1 40⁰ 23⁰ 36⁰ 32⁰
2 45⁰ 24⁰ 33⁰ 33⁰
3 50⁰ 25⁰ 34⁰ 34⁰
4 55⁰ 26⁰ 35⁰ 35⁰ RESULTS:
The angle of minimum deviation for –
Water Dm = 23⁰C
Kerosene oil Dm = 33⁰C
Turpentine oil Dm = 32⁰C
The refractive indices of the-
Water n = 1.32
Kerosene oil n = 1.46
Turpentine oil n = 1.44
Speed of light in-
Water v = 2.3x108 m/s

Kerosene oil v = 2.05x108 m/s
Turpentine oil v = 2.08x108 m/s
PRECAUTIONS:
• The angle of incidence should lie between 35⁰ – 60⁰.
• The pins should be fixed vertical.
• The distance between the two pins should not be less
than 10mm.
• Arrow heads should be marked to represent the
incident and emergent rays.
• The same angle of prism should be used for all the
observations.
SOURCES OF ERRORS:
• Pin pricks may be thick.
• Measurement of angles may be wrong.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following sources were used for the appropriate

information required to complete the project:
Comprehensive: Practical Physics Class XII

NCERT textbook of class XII

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PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY

In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with

DIAGRAM: Refraction through a prism.

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

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

From Snell’s law,

This relation is useful for determination of n for Prism material.

DIAGRAM: Refraction through prism at different angles

Angle of hollow prism A = 60⁰

The refractive indices of the-

Speed of light in-

Water v = 2.3x108 m/s

The following sources were used for the appropriate

Comprehensive: Practical Physics Class XII

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