EXPERIMENT No.

02

AIM :
i. To determine angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between
angle of incidences and the angle of deviation.
ii. To determine the refractive index of material (glass) of the prism.

APPARATUS :
Drawing board, a white sheet of paper, prism, drawing pins, pencil, half metre scale, office
pins, graph paper and a protractor.

THEORY :
The refractive index (n) of the material of the prism is given by
𝐴 + 𝐷𝑚
sin
𝑛= 2
𝐴
sin 2
Where, 𝐷𝑚 is the angle of minimum deviation, and
A is the angle of prism

DIAGRAM :

ZOOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | EXPERIMENT NO. 02 1

OBSERVATIONS:

Serial No. of Angle of incidence Angle of deviation

Observations ( ∠i ) ( ∠D )
1 35˚ 46˚
2 40˚ 43˚
3 45˚ 40˚
4 50˚ 38˚
5 55˚ 41˚
6 60˚ 45˚
Angle of prism ‘A’ = 60˚

ZOOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | EXPERIMENT NO. 02 2

GRAPH :
Angle of incidence (i) vs Angle of Deviation (D)

ZOOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | EXPERIMENT NO. 02 3

CALCULATIONS:
A graph has been plotted between angle of incidence ∠i and angle of deviation ∠D by
taking ∠I along X-axis and ∠D along Y-axis. From this graph, the value of angle of minimum
deviation Dm has been found corresponding to the lowest point of the graph.
Let the value of angle of minimum deviation Dm = 38˚
Then,
𝐴 + 𝐷𝑚
sin
𝑛= 2
𝐴
sin 2

60° + 38°
sin
𝑜𝑟, 𝑛= 2
60°
sin 2

sin 49°
𝑜𝑟, 𝑛=
sin 30°
0.7547
𝑜𝑟, 𝑛=
1
2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑛 = 0.7547 × 2

𝑜𝑟, 𝑛 = 1.509

RESULT:
i. i – D graph indicates that as the angle of incidence (i) increases, the angle of deviation (D)
first decreases, attains a minimum value (Dm) and then starts increasing for further increase
in angle of incidence.
ii. Angle of minimum deviation, Dm = 38˚
iii. Refractive index of the material of the prism, n = 1.509

PRECAUTION:
i. The angle of incidence should lie between 35˚ - 60˚.
ii. The pins should be fixed vertical.
iii. The same angle of prism should be used for all the observations.

SOURCES OF ERROR:
i. Pin pricks may be thick.
ii. Measurement of angles may be wrong.

ZOOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | EXPERIMENT NO. 02 4