By – Abhishek

Class – xii ‘a’

Guided by – Mr. r. Chandra Kaladharan

(pgt physics)
 This is to certify that Abhishek studying in
class XII ‘A’, during the academic year
2019-20 has completed the investigatory
project – “to find the refractive index of
different liquids using liquid lens method” ,
under my guidance for AISSCE.

Internal Examiner

Principal

External Examiner
Every organised report requires a lot of hard work
and seeks a lot of helping hands. Up to the
completion of this project report, I was not so far
from this strategy or rule. Apart from the efforts
of an individual, the success of any project
depends largely on the encouragement and
guidelines of many others. I take this opportunity
to express my gratitude to the people who have
been instrumental in the successful completion
of this project.

It is my duty to record my sincere thanks and

deep sense of gratitude to our respected teacher
Mr. R. Chandra Kaladharan (PGT Physics) for his
proper guidance, moderation, encouragement
and providing me with all the materials required
for the success of the project without whom this
project would have not materialised.

I would also like to thank my parents for their

blessings and my friends for providing helping
hands, thereby acting as fuels for the successful
completion.

BY - ABHISHEK
1. Aim 01
2. Introduction 02
3. Theory 04
4. Apparatus Required 05
5. Diagram 06
6. Procedure 07
7. Observations 09
8. Calculations 10
9. Result 11
10. Conclusion 12
11. Precautions 13
12. Sources of Error 14
13. Bibliography 15
To find the refractive
index of different
transparent liquids using
an equiconvex lens and a
plane mirror.

1
Many optical tasks require several lenses in order
to achieve an acceptable level of performance.
One such possible approach to lens combination
is to consider the image formed by each lens as
the object for the next lens and so on. This is a
valid approach, but it is time consuming and
difficult. Liquid lens experiment can be used to
find the refractive indices of different liquids.
The theory behind the liquid lens is based on the
properties of one or more liquid to create
magnification within a small amount of space.
The focus of a liquid lens is controlled by the
surface of the liquid. Essentially the liquid must
be transparent so as to study its properties. To
generate a liquid lens, a liquid is sandwiched
between two pieces of clear plastic or glass. The
surface profiles of the liquid determine the focal
length of the liquid lens system and how the
liquid lens focuses the light rays.

2
If the mirror is kept behind the lens
and the object at the focus of the lens
above it, the image of the object will
be formed at the same focus where
the object is. If it is an extended
object, its image will be inverted and
the size of the image is same as that
of the object. This property has
enabled the efficient use of liquid
lens to find the refractive index of a
liquid. The focal length of the liquid
lens can be calculated knowing the
focal length of the combination and
that of the convex lens, from which
the refractive index of the liquid can
be easily estimated.

3
 n = 2 – (fo /fl )
where,
n = refractive index of liquid
f = focal length of convex lens in
o
air
f = focal length of liquid lens
l

4
1. A convex lens
2. A plane mirror
3. A stand with clamp
4. An optical needle
5. A half metre scale
6. A mirror holder
7. A screen
8. A cloth
9. various liquids (glycerine,
coconut oil, kerosene oil,
turpentine oil, and vinegar)

5
6
A. For focal length of convex lens :
1. Take the convex lens and find its
rough focal length.
2. Take the plane mirror and place it
on the horizontal base of the iron
stand.
3. Place the convex lens on the plane
mirror.
4. Screw tight the optical needle in
the clamp of the stand and hold it
horizontally above the lens at
distance equal to its rough focal
length.
5. Bring the tip of the needle at the
vertical principal axis of the lens,
so that tip of the needle appears
touching the tip of its image.

7
6. Move the needle up and down and
remove parallax between tips of
the needle and its image.
7. Measure the distance between tip
and upper surface of the lens
using scale.
8. Also measure the distance between
tip and the surface of the plane
mirror.

B. For focal length of the

combination :
1. Take a few drops of a liquid on the
plane mirror and put the convex
lens over it with its same face
above as before.
2. Repeat steps A.6, A.7 and A.8.
3. Change the liquid and repeat steps
B.1 and B.2.

8
S.N Liquid Distance Distance Mean Focal Refracti Refracti
o. of of needle length ve ve
needle tip from index index
tip from plane (Exper- (Standa
lens mirror (cm) (cm) imental -rd)
surface (cm) )
(cm)

01 Without 9.6 10.4 10.0 10.0 1.00 1.00

liquid

02 Water 14.5 15.3 14.9 14.9 1.33 1.33

03 Glycerine 18.4 19.2 18.8 18.8 1.47 1.47

04 Kerosene 17.8 18.6 18.2 18.2 1.45 1.44

oil

05 Coconut 17.6 18.4 18.0 18.0 1.44 1.43-

oil 1.46

06 Turpentine 18.1 18.9 18.5 18.5 1.46 1.47

oil

07 Vinegar 15.5 16.3 15.9 15.9 1.37 1.37

Rough focal length of convex lens = 10 cm

Focal length of convex lens in air, (f o) = 10 cm

9
 n(Without Liquid) = 2 - (10.0/10.0) =
2 - 1 = 1.00
n(Water) = 2 - (10.0/14.9) = 2 - 0.67
= 1.33
n(Glycerine) = 2 - (10.0/18.8) = 2 - 0.53
= 1.47
n(Kerosene Oil)= 2-(10.0/18.2)=2-0.55
= 1.45
n(Coconut Oil) = 2 - (10.0/18.0) = 2 -
0.56 = 1.44
n(Turpentine Oil) = 2 - (10.0/18.5) = 2
- 0.54= 1.46
n(Vinegar) = 2 - (10.0/15.9) = 2 - 0.63
= 1.37

10
 Refractive index of :
(i) Water = 1.33
(ii) Glycerine = 1.47
(iii) Kerosene Oil = 1.45
(iv) Coconut Oil = 1.44
(v)Turpentine Oil = 1.46
(vi) Vinegar = 1.37

11
 Liquid lens method can
always be used as an easy
and convenient method to
calculate the refractive
index of a transparent
liquid which would almost
provide an accurate result.

12
 The plane mirror should be
clean and fully shining
surface.
 The parallax should be
removed tip to tip by placing
the eye at a minimum
distance of 30 cm.
 Only few drops of liquids
should be taken so that its
layer is thick.

13
 Liquid may not be quite
transparent.
 The parallax may not be
fully removed.
 Liquid layer formed may
not be thick.

14
• Physics lab manual
(comprehensive)
• Wikipedia.org
• Slideshare.net
• Learncbse.com
• Refractiveindex.info

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