Experiment No: E 05

DETERMINATION OF
REFRACTIVE INDICES FOR A
PRISM MATERIAL AND A GIVEN
TRANSPARENT LIQUID

Student Name : R.M.B.Ranasinghe

Student No : PS/2008/388
Partners No : PS/2008/366
Group : A2
Date of Perform : 02,06, 2011
Date of Submission : 02, 08, 2011
Experiment : Study of the index of Refractive-Line of Demention

Object : Determination of refractive indices for a prism material and a given

transparent liquid

Apparatus : Spectrometer, Na light source, Prism with one face grounded, glass
slide.

Theory :

If the incident angle of a light ray on DF surface, coming from a point P, is

greater than the critical angle C (see figure 1(a)), it will subject to a total
internal reflection, and travel along QRS direction .rays from P which incident
within FQ range are refracted while those incident within QD range are
internally reflected a the DF surface. Therefore, a margin may be observed
from SR direction where the intensity varies from brightness (RD region) to
darkness (ER region) to darkness (ER region). The two regions are separated
by a line of demarcation and this position could be observed through the
telescope of the spectrometer. When the surface DF is covered with a film of
liquid (e.g. water) a similar demarcation line also cold be observed.
From Snell’s Law,

At Q ;
μ sin C=μ 1 ⃗( 1 )
At R ; μ sin β=sin α ⃗ ( 2)

Here, μ and μ1 are the indices of refraction for the prism substance and the
medium next to the DF surface, respectively. α and β denote the angles of
incidences and emergence at the ED surface, Respectively.

From GQR triangle (Figure 1), C=A−β ⃗ (3); C< A .

From DQR triangle (Figure 2), C=A + β ⃗( 4 ); C> A .

(1),(2) and (3) result in
1
μ1 =sin A ( μ2 −sin 2 α )
2
− cos A sin α ⃗ ( 5)

For the situation as in figure 1(a) with air on surface DF, we have
μ1 =1. Then the
index of refraction for the prism substance is,
1
1+cos A sin α 2
μ= {(
sin A )
+sin2 α 2 ⃗(6 ) }
For the situation as in figure 1(b) with the liquid next to the surface DF, the
refractive index of the liquid
μ1 can be determined as follows.

From (1),(2) and (4) we have,

μ1 =μ sin ( A + β )
1
μ1 =sin A ( μ −sin α ) 2 +cos A sin α ⃗( 7 )
2 2

By substituting μ obtained from (6) and the corresponding α Angle measured

when there is liquid next to surface DF, in equation (7) we get refractive index of
liquid (
μ1 )

Determination of the angle α when air is present next to the surface DF:

When the DF surface has air next to it, one can observe the demarcation line through
the DE surface, which has an angle of emergence α at R (see figure 2). A similar
observation can be made through the DF surface with the same α at Q as shown
in the figure 2. If 0is the angle between two demarcation lines, one can write from
QPRS rectangle that
 Figure 2

(180− A )+2 α+(360−θ )=360 ,

These yields
θ + A−180
α= ⃗ ( 8)
2
Determination of the angle α when the liquid is present next to the surface DF:

When the DF surface is touched by a liquid, one can observe a situation as illustrated
in figure 1(b). Do the following steps to determine α in this case. First, place the
Na lamp at position (2) and recorded the reading (3) which is the reflection of (2) as
shown in the figure 1(b). Now, without changing the prism or collimator positions,
place the Na lamp to illuminate the demarcation line. Remove the prism to record
the reading (4) [direct reading of (2)]. From these data, one can determine α as
(3 )−(2)
α=|| |−|(3)−(1)||⃗ (9 )
2

Procedure :

a. The spectrometer was adjusted for parallel rays using Schuster’s method.
b. the prism was Leveled table and obtain the prism angle A
c. The slit was Remove and the prism was placed such that rough surface is
facing the collimator.
d. Then the telescope was rotated to observe demarcation lines from other two
sides for glass-air case.
e. a little amount of liquid was Apply of which the refractive index is to be
determined (water) on one plane surface of the prism using a glass plate and
demarcation was observed line for glass-liquid case.
f. α was determined for air from (7) and for liquid form (8) to calculate the
indices of refraction for the prism substance and the liquid, respectively.
Calculations:
According to first steps;

2 A=173 ° 4 3' −53 ° 3 9'

'
2 A=120 ° 0 4
'
A=60° 0 2
θ=θ 1−θ 2
' '
θ=217° 2 8 −19 °2 8
θ=198 °
θ+ A−180
α=
2
'
198 °+60 °0 2 −180 °
α=
2
α=39 °0 1'
1
1+cos A sin α 2
μ= {(
sin A
+sin2 α ) }
2

1
' ' 2
μ=
{(
1+cos60 °02 sin39 ° 0 1
sin 60° 0 2
'
+sin2 39 °0 1' 2
) }
μ=1.642

'
Direct reading of (2) is= 177 °2 6
Reading of (2) is= 177 °2 6' −180 °=−2 °3 4 ' =(357 ° 4 3' )

(3)−(2)
α=|| |−|(3)−(1)||
2
' '
111 ° 42 −(−2°3 4 ) ' '
α=|| |−|111° 4 2 −66 °50 ||
2
'
α=12° 16
1
μ1 =sin A ( μ −sin α ) 2 +cos A sin α
2 2

1
' ' ' '
μ1 =sin 60° 0 2 ( 1. 6422 −sin2 12° 1 6 ) 2 +cos 60 ° 0 2 sin 12° 1 6
μ1 =1. 5160
Error Calculations:
T 1 −T 2
A=
2
ln A=ln|T 1 −T 2|−ln 2
δA δ|T 1 −T 2|
=
A 2×( T 1 −T 2 )
2
δT 1 +δT 2
δA=
2
2×2 .9088×10−4
δA= =2. 9088×10−4 rad
2

θ=θ 1−θ 2
δθ=δθ1 +δθ 2
δθ=2×2. 9088×10−4 rad

θ+ A−180
α=
2
ln α=ln|θ+ A−180|−ln 2
δα δ ( θ+ A−180 )
=
α 2×( θ+ A−180 )
2
δθ+δA
δα=
2
3×2 . 9088×10−4
δα= =1. 5×2. 9088×10−4 rad
2
1
1+ cos A sin α 2
μ= {(
sin A )
+ sin2 α }
2

1+cos A sin α 2
let k=
sin A ( )
+sin2 α
then
1
2
μ=k
1
ln μ= ln k
2
δμ 1 δk δμ 1 δk
= ⇒ = 2
μ 2k μ 2μ
 1+cosAsinα sin A(cos Acosαδα−sinαsinAδA)−( 1+cosAsinα ) cosAδA
δk=2 ( sin A )(
2
sin A )
+2sinαcosαδα

' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

) }{( )}
' '
1+cos60°02 sin39°01 sin60°02 (cos60°02 cos39°01 δα−sin39°01 sin60°02 δA)−(1+cos60°02 sin39°01 ) cos60°02 δA
δk=¿ 2
{(
sin60°02
'
׿ 2 '
sin 60°02
¿ ¿ {}

and δα=1.5×2.9088×10−4
1+0.499×0.629 0.866(0.499×0.777×1.5−0.866×0.629)− (1+0.499×0.629) 0.499
δk=¿ 2
{( 0.866
× 2
0.866 )( )} −4
¿ ¿{}2.9088×10 rad

δk=(−1.0566)×2.9088×10−4 rad=−1.971×10−3 rad

1 δk
δμ=
2μ
−4
1 (1 . 0566×2 . 9088×10 rad )
δμ= ×57 . 29 rad−1 =±4 . 84×10−3
2 1 .814

(3)−(2)
α=|| |−|(3)−(1)||
2
(3)−(2)
ln α=ln|| |−|(3)−(1)||
2
δ(3 )+δ(2)+δ(3 )+δ (1)
δα=
2
δα=2×2. 9088×10−4 rad=3 . 333×10−2

1
2 2 2
μ1 =sin A ( μ −sin α ) +cos A sin α
1
{
ln μ1 =ln sin A( μ 2−sin 2 α ) 2 + cos A sin α }
1
δμ 1 δ|sin A ( μ 2−sin2 α ) 2 +cos A sin α|
= 1
μ1
sin A ( μ2 −sin 2 α ) 2 +cos A sin α
 1
2 2 2
δμ1=δ|sin A(μ −sin α) +cosAsinα|
−1 1

{ 1
}
δμ1=¿ sinA× (μ2−sin2 α) 2(2μδμ−2sinαcosαδα)+(μ2−sin 2 α) 2 cosAδA ¿ ¿ {}
2
−1 1

{ ' 1 ' ' ' ' '

}
δμ1=¿ sin60°02 × (μ2−sin2 12°16 ) 2(2μδμ−2sin 12°16 cos12°16 δα)+(μ2−sin2 12°16 ) 2 cos60°02 δA ¿ ¿ {}
2
−1 1

{ 1
}{ }
δμ1=¿ 0 .866× ×(1.6422−0.21242 ) 2 (2×1.642×4.85×10−3−2×0.2124×0.977×3.333×10−2 ) ¿ +(1.6422−0.21242 ) 2×0.499×1.666×10−2+0.499×0.977×3.333×10−2 ¿ ¿ {}
2
δμ1=±0.030
Conclusion:

Reflective indices of prism according to experiment = 1. 642 ±4 .84×10−3

Standard value for reflective indices of glass = 1.50-1.54

Reflective indices of liquid according to experiment = 1.516 ±0 .033
Standard value for reflective indices of water = 1.333
Discussion

Refraction of light at the interface between two media.

The refractive index or index of refraction of a substance is a measure of the speed of

light in that substance. It is expressed as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum relative to
that in the considered medium. The velocity at which light travels in vacuum is a physical
constant, and the fastest speed at which energy or information can be transferred.
However, light travels slower through any given material, or medium, that is not vacuum.
(See: light in a medium).

A simple mathematical description of the refractive index is as follows:

n = velocity of light in a vacuum / velocity of light in medium

For example, the refractive index of water is 1.33, meaning that light travels 1.33 times as
fast in a vacuum as it does in water.

As light exits a medium, such as air, water, or glass, it may also change its propagation
direction in proportion to the refractive index (see Snell's law). By measuring the angle of
incidence and angle of refraction of the light beam, the refractive index n can be
determined. Refractive index of materials varies with the frequency of radiated light. This
results in a slightly different refractive index for each color. The cited values of refractive
indices, such as 1.33 for water, are taken for yellow light of a sodium source which has
the wavelength of 589.29 nanometers.
n optics and physics, Snell's law (also known as Descartes' law, the Snell–Descartes
law, and the law of refraction) 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 and glass.

Refraction of light at the interface between two media

of different refractive indices, with n2 > n1. Since the
velocity is lower in the second medium (v2 < v1), the
angle of refraction θ2 is less than the
angle of incidence θ1; that is, the ray in the higher-index
medium is closer to the normal.

In optics, the law is used in ray tracing to compute

the angles of incidence or refraction, and in experimental
optics and gemology to find the refractive index of a
material. The law is also satisfied in metamaterials,
which allow light to be bent "backward" at a negative
angle of refraction (negative refractive index).

Although named after Dutch astronomer Willebrord Snellius

(1580-1626), the law was first accurately described by the
Arab scientist Ibn Sahl of Baghdad, when in 984 he used the
law to derive lens shapes that focus light with no geometric
aberrations in the manuscript On Burning Mirrors and Lenses
(984).

Snell's law states that the ratio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction is
equivalent to the ratio of phase velocities in the two media, or equivalent to the opposite
ratio of the indices of refraction:

with each θ as the angle measured from the normal, v as the velocity of light in the
respective medium (SI units are meters per second, or m/s) and n as the refractive index
(which is unit less) of the respective medium.