To Investigate the dependence, of

the angle of deviation on the

angle of incidence using a hollow
prism filled, one by one, with
different transparent fluids.

APPARATUS:-
Drawing board, white sheets of paper, hollow
prism, different liquids (water, kerosene, oil,
spirit etc.) Drawing pins, pencil, half meter scale,
thumb pins, graph papers and a protractor.

THEORY:-
Refraction of Light through a Prism
Diagram shows section ABC of a prism taken by
a vertical plane, perpendicular to the edge. BC is
the base of the prism and AB and AC are its two
refracting surfaces.
RQ is the incident ray.
QS is the refracted ray.
ST is the emergent ray.
∠RQN1= i = angle of incidence
∠SQN = r = angle of refraction inside prism
3 1
∠QSN = r = angle of incidence inside prism
3 2
∠TSN = e = angle of emergence
2
∠BAC= A = angle of prism

∠SFK= D = angle of deviation

In QFS, ∠KFS =∠FQS+∠FSQ

D= (i - r1) + (e - r2)
D= i+e - (r1 + r2) …..(1)

In QS1N3 ,r1 + r2 + ∠QN3S= 180o …..(2)

The quadrilateral AQN3S is cyclic quadrilateral,

then
A + QN3S = 180
From (2) and (3)
A = r1 + r2
Eq. (1) become
D = I +e -A
D+A=i+e
 Angle of Minimum Deviation

(a) Definition:- The minimum value of angle of

deviation, is called angle of minimum deviation. It
is represented by the symbol Dm.

(b) Explanation:- For same angle of deviation

there are two values of angles of incidence. one
value equals i other value equals and 'e'.

As angle i is increased from a small value, e

decreases from large value and angle of deviation
decreases. When angle of deviation is minimum
(Dm), then, i and e becomes equal.

The refracted ray QS goes parallel to base BC.

Since i = e, we have r1 = r2. {∵ n= sin r 1 = sin r 2 }
sin i sin e

Hence, at minimum deviation, when r1 = r2 =r

A
We have A = r1 + r2 = r + r = 2r or r= 2

Also, at minimum deviation, D = Dm and i = e

From relation, A + D = i + e
 A + Dm
We have, A + Dm = i + i = 2i or i= 2
sin i
From Snell's law, n= sin r
A+ D m
sin
2
We have, n= sin
A
2

This relation is useful for determination of n for

prism material.

Procedure:-

1. Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing

board with the help of drawing pins.
2. Draw a straight line XX' parallel to the length
of the paper nearly in the middle of the paper.
3. Mark points Q1 ,Q2 ,Q3 ,.… on the straight line
XX' at suitable distances of about 5 cm.
4. Draw normals N1Q1 ,N2Q2 ,N3Q3 ,… on points
Q1 ,Q2 ,Q3 ,.… as shown in diagram.
5. Draw straight line R1Q1 ,R2Q2,R3Q3,… making
angles of 35o,40o,…,60o respectively with the
normals.
6. Mark one corner of the prism as A and take it
as the edge of the prism for all the observations.
7. Put it prism with its refracting face AB in the
line XX' and points Q1 in the middle of AB.
8. Mark the boundary of the prism.
9. Fix two or more office pin P1 and P2 vertically
on the line R1Q1 . The distance between the pins
should be 10 mm or more.
10. Look the images of point P 1 and P2 through
face AC.
11. Close your left eye and bring open right eye
in line with the two images.
12. Fix two office pins P3 and P4 vertically, and 10
cm apart such that the open right eye sees pins P 4
and P3 and images of P2 and P1 in one straight line.
13. Remove pins P3 and P4 and encircle their
pricks on the paper.
14. Repeat steps 7 to 13 with points Q 2 , Q3 ,… for
i= 40o , 60o .

OBSERVATIONS:-
Angle of hollow prism A= ……… degree.
S.No. Angle of Angle of Angle of Angle of Angle of
incidence deviationfor deviation deviation deviation
∠i
water for for sprits for
∠D ∠D
kerosene turpentine
oil oil
∠D ∠D

1) 35o
2) 40o
3) 45o
4) 50o
5) 55o

CALCULATIONS
 Plot the graph between angle of incidence
∠ i and angle of deviation ∠ D by taking ∠ i along X-

axis and ∠ D along Y-axis for each transparent

liquid. The graphs will be similar to Fig. 12.14.
From the graph find the value of angle of
minimum deviation Dm corresponding to the
lowest point of the graphs. Let the value of angle
of minimum deviation.
Dm = ……………
Then refractive index of the transparent medium
A+ D m
sin
2
n= sin
A
2

The speed of light in a transparent medium is

C
v= n
where speed of light in air is C=3×108 m/s.

RESULTS
 I. The i-D graph indicates that as the angle of
incidence (i) increases, the angle of deviation (D)
first decreases, attains a minimum value (D m) and
then again start increasing for further increase in
angle of incidence.
II. The angle of minimum deviation for
a. Water Dm = ………..oC
b. Kerosene oil Dm = ………..oC
c. Sprit Dm = ………..oC
d. Turpentine oil Dm = ………..oC
III. The refractive indices of the
a. Water n = ………..
b. Kerosene oil n = ………..
c. Sprit n = ………..
d. Turpentine oil n = ………..
IV. Speed of light in
a. Water v = ………..m/s
b. Kerosene oil v = ………..m/s
c. Sprit v = ……….m/s
d. Turpentine oil v = ………..m/s

PRECAUTIONS
 The angle of incidence should lie between
35o- 60o.
 The same angle of prism should be used for
all the observations.

SOURCE OF ERRORS

 Measurement of angles may be wrong.

 Pin pricks may be thick.