SIF 1006 | PRACTICAL PHYSICS

EXPERIMENT O2 : REFRACTION OF LIGHT

NAME : MUHAMMAD FAIZ FAHMI BIN ABDUL BASIR

MATRIX NUMBER : U2100128/2
SESSION : 2022/2023
SEMESTER :2
LECTURER : PROF. MADYA DR. MOHD HAMDI BIN ALI @ BURAIDAH
DR. NIMA NADERI
COURSE NAME : BACHELOR OF ISLAMIC STUDIES AND SCIENCE
DATE : 13/4/2023
Objec ve
1. To understand the opera on of the light prism spectrometer.
2. To demonstrate light refrac on properly.
3. To study the behaviour of light when it through the different density medium.
4. To measure the angle of refrac on of light in prism.

Apparatus
Prism, collimeter, spectrometer, sodium(Na) light source, telescope, magnifier lens.
Introduc on
What is refrac on? Refrac on is a natural phenomena that happen in our daily
life.Refrac on is the bending of light as it passes through a medium, such as air, water, or
glass. It occurs because the speed of light changes as it passes through different media. The
amount of refrac on that occurs depends on the angle at which the light strikes the surface,
the proper es of the medium, and the angle at which the light leaves the surface.
When light travels from one medium to another, it changes speed. This is because light
travels at different speeds in different media, depending on the density of the material. For
example, light travels more slowly in water than it does in air, and more slowly in glass than
it does in water. The change in speed causes the light to bend.
Refrac on is responsible for many op cal phenomena, such as the bending of light in lenses,
the forma on of rainbows, and the apparent displacement of objects when viewed through
a transparent medium. It is also used in many prac cal applica ons, such as in the design of
eyeglasses, microscopes, and telescopes.

(Source: Google Images)

As we know, if the the medium has low density, it has high refac ve index and vice verse.
Base on the Snell’s Law;

𝑛1 sin 𝑖 = 𝑛2 sin 𝑟
𝑛2 sin 𝑖
=
𝑛1 sin 𝑟

Which is :
n1 & n2 = refrac ve index of medium
I = incident angle
R= refracted angle
In addi on, the reflac ve index ia a ra o of the speed of light in the medium.
𝑐
𝑛=
𝑣

Which is:
c = the speed of light (3.0 x 10^8 m/s)
v = the speed of light in a different medium
now, refrac on in prism.it happen when the light refracted twice: once as it enters the prism
and again as it exits the prism. The amount of refrac on depends on the angle at which the
light enters the prism and the refrac ve index of the material the prism is made of.

Light in the prism (Source:Google)

The prism separates the white light into its component colors because different
colors of light have different wavelengths, and thus, different refrac ve indices. As a result,
each color is refracted at a slightly different angle, causing them to separate and form a
spectrum of colors, with red being refracted the least and violet being refracted the most.
Overall, the refrac on of light in a prism is an important phenomenon that allows us to study
the proper es of light and understand the behavior of light as it passes through different
media.
Experimental Method
Before Experimental

The telescope, prism table and collimator is alligned. The cross lining in the telescope is a
thing that made for poin ng any spectrum line. The telescope is adjusted in a straight line to
the collimator un l we can see the the sharp bright slit is produced.
While Experimental
Part 1 : Measurement of angle of the prism

Source: (Lab Manual)

Posi on the prism according to the diagram, ensuring that the rough side faces the
telescope. Ac vate the Na light source and locate the light's image using the telescope.
Record the reading at this point. Following that, while keeping the prism in the same
posi on, shi the telescope to the right side of the prism and locate the light's image,
recording the reading. Repeat the same procedure by shi ing the telescope to the le side
of the prism. Take the measurent.
Part 2 :To determine the dispersion property and prism dispersive power

The dispersive power of a prism can be determined by taking specific steps. Ini ally, the
telescope is adjusted to detect the yellow light while in posi on. Subsequently, the prism's
rough side is not facing the telescope, and the telescope is moved un l the color dispersion
is found. Finally, the readings for each color are taken using vernier A and vernier B, and
their average is calculated.

Prism adjustment (Source : Camera)

Result
Part 1 : Measurement of angle of prism

Measurement Vernier A (Δ=±0.5′)

First posi on
(Right)
211°05′

Second
posi on (Le )
329°15′

Difference
between two
118°05′
posi on

The angle of 59.05′

prism (apex)

Table 1: Data for measurement of apex

The angle of prism , A = ( 59.05 ±0.0083 ) °

 Part 2: To determine the dispersion property and prism’s dispersive power

Colour Wavelengt Vernier A Vernier B Average

h, 𝜆 angle of
minimum
Reading Angle of Reading Angle of deviation,
minimum minimum 𝜃𝜆
deviation deviation

Red 6161 327°15′ 49°19′ 149°20′ 43°00′ 46°09′

Yellow 5890 328°6′ 47°28′ 148°04′ 44°16′ 45°25′

Pale 5688 328°15′ 47°19′ 148°20′ 44°00′ 45°39′

green

Deep 5154 328°10′ 47°24′ 148°07′ 44°13′ 45°48′

green

Blue 4983 329°19′ 46°15′ 148°08′ 44°12′ 45°13′

green

Violet 4669 330°14′ 45°20′ 150°15′ 42°05′ 43°42′

Straight through the 375°34′ 192°20′

posi on

Table 2 : Data for determina on of dispersive power

 𝑥 (𝜆) 𝑦 (𝜃𝜆) 𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥𝑦

6161 46°09′ 37957921 2419.656 303059.59

5890 45°25′ 34692100 2235.398 282734.40

5688 45°39′ 32353344 2364.876 268416.72

5154 45°48′ 26563716 2231.617 243474.96

4983 45°13′ 24830289 2129.822 229965.45

4669 43°42′ 21799561 2043.040 211038.8

Σ𝑥=32545 Σy= 270.76 Σ 𝑥2 Σ y2 = Σxy =

=178196931 13424.409 1538679.92

Table 3 : Data for determina on of dispersive power

The uncertainty for the measurement of spectrometer is 0.5′ or 0.00833°.

The graph of 𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝜃𝜆 for plo ed.

Centroid point, (𝑥̅, 𝑦̅ ), for the graph 𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝜃𝜆 can be calculated by
determine the average of ∑ 𝑥 and ∑ 𝑦.

∑𝑥 32545 ∑𝑦 270.76
𝑥̅ = = = 5424.16 , 𝑦̅= = = 45.12
6 6 6 6

(𝑥̅,𝑦̅) = (5328.14, 45.12)

Graph 𝜃𝜆 vs 𝜆
From table, we can know the gradient, 𝑚, by using formula;
𝑛
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑚
𝑛
Subs tude the value from table 2;

𝑚 = 6(1538679.92)- (32545)(270.76)
6(178196931)-(32545)2

𝑚 =0.42 °Å−1

For uncertainty, we par al diffren ate the gradient equa on;

𝛿𝑚

Subs tude the value in table 2;

𝛿𝑚 = √(6(13424.409)-(270.76) 2 -0.42)
4(6(178196931)-325452

𝛿𝑚 = 0.0002

The gradient of this graph;

(𝑚 ± 𝛿𝑚) = (0.42 ± 0.002) × 10−3 °Å−1

For the y-intercept, it can be determine by equa on;

𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 = 𝑐 =
𝑛

Subs tude the value in table 2 in y-intercept equa on;

𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 = 𝑐 = [(178196931)(270.76)-(32545)(1538678.92)]
6(178196931)-(32545)2

𝑐 = 44.52
As for the uncertainty, we par al diffren ate the y-intercept equa on;

subs tude the value into the equa on;

𝛿𝑐 = √(32545)(6(13424.40 – 270.76)2 – 43.0

6(4)(6(178196931-32545)2

𝛿𝑐 = 0.73

The y-intercept for this graph is;

(𝑐 ± 𝛿𝑐) = (44.52 ± 0.73)°

5. To find the error of dispersion and the dispersive power value, we use the equation;

𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦= (𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 / 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒) × 100%

Conclusion
From this experiment, we get the experimental value for dispersion, 𝑑𝑛𝑑𝜆 is
(0.001164±0.44649) 𝑐𝑚−1 with rela ve uncertainty 1.29%.

Reference

Anonymus. (n.d.), Refraction through prism, https://www.cbsetuts.com/ncert-class-10-

science lab-manual-refraction-prism/

h ps://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/49-refrac on-of-
light#:~:text=Refrac on%20is%20the%20bending%20of,magnifying%20glasses%2C%20prism
s%20and%20rainbows.
h ps://byjus.com/physics/refrac on-of-light/