Lab 3 Sam Prince Franklin K

20MIS1115

Aim:
Given the angle of the prism, aim of the experiment is to determine the angle of minimum
deviation of the prism and hence calculate its refractive index.

Apparatus:
• Spectrometer
• Given Prism
• Mercury Vapor lamp

Theory:

Refraction by a prism:
In a prism, the two surfaces are inclined at some angle α so that the deviation produced
by the first surface is not annulled by the second but is further increased. The chromatic
dispersion is also increased, which is the main function of the prism. Let us consider first the
geometrical optics of the prism for a monochromatic light source.

The solid ray in fig. 1 shows the path of a ray incident on the first surface at the angle
φ1. Its refraction at the second surface, as well as at the first surface, obeys Snell’s law, so that
in terms of the angles shown.
Lab 3 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

The angle of deviation produced by the first surface is β = φ1 – φ1’, and that produced
by the second surface is γ = φ2 – φ2’. The total angle of deviation δ between the incident and
emergent rays is given by δ = β + γ. Since NN’ and MN’ are perpendicular to the two prism faces,
α is also the angle at N’.

From triangle ABN’ and the exterior angle α, we obtain α = φ1’ + φ2’. Combining the
above equations,

we obtain δ = β + γ = φ1 – φ1’ + φ2 – φ2’

= φ1 + φ2 – (φ1’ + φ2’) δ

= φ1 + φ2 – α

Minimum Deviation:
When the total angle of deviation δ for any given prism is calculated by the use of the
above equations, it is found to vary considerably with the angle of incidence. The angles thus
calculated are in exact agreement with the experimental measurements. If during the time a ray
of light is refracted by a prism, the prism is rotated continuously in one direction about an axis
(A in fig.1) parallel to the refracting edge, the angle of deviation δ will be observed to decrease,
reach a minimum, and then increase again as shown in fig. 2.

The smallest deviation angle, called the angle of minimum deviation δ m, occurs at that
particular angle of incidence where the refracted ray inside the prism makes equal angles with
the two prism faces (Fig. 3). In this special case,

φ1 = φ2; φ1’ = φ2’; β = γ

To prove these angles equal, assume φ1 does not equal to φ2 when minimum deviation
occurs. By the principle of the reversibility of light rays, there would be two different angles of
incidence capable of giving minimum deviation. Since experimentally we find only one, there
must be symmetry and the above equalities must hold.

In triangle ABC in fig. 3, the exterior angle δm equals the sum of the opposite interior
angles β + γ. Similarly for the triangle ABN’, the exterior angle α equals the sum of φ1’ + φ2’.
Consequently, α = 2φ1’; δm = 2β ; φ1 = φ1’ + β Solving these three equations for φ1 & φ1’ gives
φ1’ = (½)α and φ1 = (½)(α + δm) Since by Snells’s law n’/n = (sinφ1)/(sinφ1’), we have Here, for
mathematical representation, δ is equated to δm.
Lab 3 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

Procedure:
Observation/Data:
Angle of prism = 60°

Vernier A Vernier B

MSR VSC TR MSR VSC TR

Reading of Refracted Image V 131° 15' 131°15’ 311° 2' 311°2’
(i) G 132° 19' 132°19’ 312° 13' 312°13’
Y 132° 26' 132°26’ 312° 29' 312°29’
R 133° 0' 133° 313° 0' 313°
Reading of Direct Ray (ii) 171° 19' 171°19’ 351° 12' 351°12’
Difference between (i) & (ii) V 40° 4’ 40°4’ 40° 10’ 40°10’
(D) G 39° 0’ 39° 39° 1’ 39°1’
Y 39° 7’ 39°7’ 39° 17’ 39°17’
R 38° 19’ 38°19’ 38° 12’ 38°12’
Mean Value of D 39.12° 39.15°

Calculations:
𝛼+𝛿
𝑠𝑖𝑛
2
𝜇= 𝛼
𝑠𝑖𝑛
2

𝛿 =Angle of Minimum Deviation

α=Apex Angle of Prism = 60°

Violet:
𝛿 avg=40.11°
60+40.11
𝑠𝑖𝑛
2
𝜇= 60
𝑠𝑖𝑛
2

𝝁=1.544
Lab 3 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

Green:

𝛿 avg=39°
60 + 39
𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝜇= 2
60
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2

𝝁 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟏𝟒

Yellow:

𝛿 avg=39.7°
60 + 39.7
𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝜇= 2
60
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2

𝝁 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟐𝟖

Red:

𝛿 avg=38.7°
60 + 38.7
𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝜇= 2
60
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2

𝝁 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟏𝟕

𝝁avg=(1.544+𝟏. 𝟓𝟏𝟒+ 𝟏. 𝟓𝟐𝟖 + 𝟏. 𝟓𝟏𝟕)/4

𝝁avg = 1.57
Lab 3 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

Graph:
41

40.5

40

39.5
RI

Vernier - A
Vernier - B
39

38.5

38
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
COLOR

Result:
The Refractive index (µ) of the given prism is calculated to be 1.57