EXPERIMENT – 6 (PRISM)

AIM (Ruler page)

To determine angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between
angle of incidence and angle of deviation.

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

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

THEORY :
1. Angle of prism – the angle between the two refracting surfaces, is called the angle of prism.
2. Angle of deviation – the angle through which a ray of light turns away from its original path
on passing through a prism, is called angle of deviation
3. The least value of angle of deviation is known as the angle of minimum deviation.
4. The refractive index of the material of the prism is given by

Where 𝛿𝑚 = angle of minimum deviation, A = angle of the prism.

RAY DIAGRAM : (To be drawn on 1st blank page)

OBSERVATIONS ( To be written on 2nd blank page)

Angle of prism ‘A’ = ………

OBSERVATION TABLE

Sr no. Angle of incidence ∠𝑖 Angle of deviation ∠δ

1. 30o
2. 35o
3. 40o
4. 45o
5. 50o
6. 55o
7. 60o

CALCULATIONS/ GRAPH

RESULT (Cont.. in Ruler page)

 1. As the angle of incidence (𝑖) increases, the angle of deviation (𝛿) first decreases and
attains a minimum value and then starts increasing for further increase in the angle
of incidence.
2. Angle of minimum deviation 𝛿𝑚 =………………
3. Refractive index of the material of the prism µ = ………………….

PRECAUTIONS
1. The angle of incidence should lie between 350 to 600
2. The pins should be fixed vertical.
3. The distance between two pins should not be less than 5 cm.
4. Arrowheads should be marked to represent the incident and emergent Ray
5. The same Angle of prism should be used for all observations
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. Pin pricks may be thick.
2. Measurement of angles maybe wrong.