Fig. 3.

1 Refractive index of solid

Fig. 3.2 Refractive index of liquid

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 19

 DETERMINATION OF REFRACTIVE INDEX OF SOLID AND LIQUID

EXPT. NO: DATE :

AIM
To determine the refractive index of solid and liquid using traveling
microscope.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the refractive index of a glass slab and water using travelling
microscope.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE
1. To measure the microscopic reading when the ink dot in a paper (solid)
and a pin in a beaker (liquid) is focused
2. To measure the microscopic reading when the ink dot in a paper and a pin
in a beaker are focused through the glass slab and water
3. To measure the microscopic reading when the saw dust on the surface of
the slab and water is focused
4. To calculate the refractive index of glass slab and water using the given
formula

APPARATUS REQUIRED
 Glass slab
 Given liquid (water)
 White paper
 Traveling microscope
 Saw dust
 Pin & beaker
 Magnifying lens

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 LEAST COUNT FOR TRAVELING MICROSCOPE
Least count = Value of 1 MSD/ Number of divisions in the Vernier
Value of 1 MSD = 0.05 cm
Number of divisions in the Vernier = 50
Least count = 0.05 cm / 50 = 0.001 cm
TABLE I
To find refractive index of medium (µ)

Microscope Reading( 10-2 m)

CA
Material 
A B C CB

MSR VC CR MSR VC CR MSR VC CR

cm Div cm cm div cm Cm div cm no unit

SOLID
LIQUID

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 21

 FORMULA
Refractive index of the medium
CA
 (no unit)
CB

Symbol Explanation Unit

microscopic reading when the ink dot in a paper

A m
and a pin in a beaker is focused

microscopic reading when the ink dot in a paper

B and a pin in a beaker are focused through the m
given solid and liquid

microscopic reading when the saw dust is

C m
focused

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
1. Refractive index
The refractive index of a material is a dimensionless number that describes
how light, propagates through that medium. It is defined as the ratio
between the speed of light in vacuum and speed of light in the medium
2. Refraction of light
Refraction is the bending of the path of a light wave as it passes across the
boundary separating two media. Refraction is caused by the change in
speed experienced by a wave when it changes medium.
3. Snell’s law
Snell’s law is a formula used to describe the relationship between the
angles of incidence and refraction,
when referring to light or other waves
passing through a boundary between
two different isotropic media, such as
water, glass, or air.

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 22

 CALCULATION:
Refractive index of the given solid
CA
 (no unit)
CB

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 23

 PROCEDURE:
Refractive Index of glass
1. Find the least count of travelling microscope.
2. Set the microscope with its axis vertical.
3. Hold a white paper in front of the objective of the microscope and adjust
the eyepiece so that the cross wires are seen clearly.
4. Mark an ink dot (point R) on a piece of white paper fixed on the table,
below the microscope as shown in figure.
5. Focus the microscope on the point R and note the corresponding
microscope reading (A).
6. Place the glass slab over the point R on which the microscope was
focused. Raise the microscope (without disturbing the focusing screw) so
that the point R is in focus again. Note the corresponding microscope
reading (B).
7. Spread some fine sawdust on the surface of the glass slab. Raise the
microscope (without disturbing the focusing screw) so that the sawdust
particles are clearly focused.
8. Note the corresponding microscope reading (C) is noted.
9. Repeat the procedure for different heights from the ink dot on the paper.
10.Find the refractive index (μ) of the glass with respect to air using formula.

Refractive Index of liquid

1. Find the least count of travelling microscope.
2. Set the microscope with its axis vertical.
3. Adjust the eyepiece of microscope by moving it in or out till the cross
wires are seen clearly.
4. Take a beaker and place a pin at its bottom. The pin is focused using
microscope and the corresponding vertical scale reading is noted (A).
5. Pour some quantity of given liquid slowly in the beaker.

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 24

 Refractive index of the given liquid
CA
 (no unit)
CB

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 25

 6. Raise the microscope (without disturbing the focusing screw) so that the
image of the pin is in focus again. Note the corresponding microscope
reading (B).
7. Sprinkle some sawdust over the surface of the liquid in the beaker. Raise
the microscope (without disturbing the focusing screw) so that the
sawdust particles are in focus. Note the corresponding microscope
reading (C).
8. Repeat the procedure for different heights from the pin in beaker.
9. Find the refractive index of the liquid (μ) with respect to air using
formula.

RESULT:
1. The refractive index of the given solid = …….. (no unit)
2. The refractive index of the given liquid = …….. (no unit)

APPLICATIONS
 Determination of focusing power of lenses and dispersive power of
prisms
 Transmission of light through fiber optic cables.
 Characterization of fluids using refractometer.

VIVA VOCE QUESTIONS

1. Define refractive index of a medium.

2. Indicate the dependence of refractive index with the density of medium.

3. List two factors that affect the refractive index of the material.

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 4. Refractive index varies from material to material – Justify.

STIMULATING QUESTIONS
1. Does the frequency of light change when travelling from vacuum to
water?

2. How does the light regain its original velocity after passing through a
denser medium?

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
1. Absolute refractive index of any medium is always
a) 1 b) > 1 c) < 1 d) 0
2. Which of the following has the highest refractive index?
a) Glass b) Water c) Pearl d) Diamond
3. In a simple microscope, the lens used is …………...
a) Biconvex b) Biconcave c) Plano convex d) Cylindrical

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