Prism, Angle of Refraction and Angle of Minimum Deviation

PHYSICS Project
PRISM
Calculation of
Minimum angle of deviation
And Refractive Index
Certificate
This is to certify that the project titled PRISM,
Calculation of Minimum Angle of Deviation and
Refractive Index has been successfully
submitted by _______ of class 12 for the
fulfillment of the curriculum of the Central Board
of Secondary Education (CBSE) for the academic
session 2015-2016.
Signature of Teacher
Principal
INDEX
S.N
o.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Content
Aim of Experiment
Theory
Observations
Calculations
Precautions
Pag
e
1
2-3
4
4
5
Aim of experiment
To measure the refractive
index of a prism and the
minimum angle of deviation
by using a light ray.
THEORY
Figure shows the passage of light through a triangular prism ABC. The angles
of incidence and refraction at the first face AB are i and r 1, while the angle of
incidence (from glass to air) at the second face AC is r 2 and the angle of
refraction or emergence e. The angle between the emergent ray RS and the
direction of the incident ray PQ is called the angle of deviation, .
In the quadrilateral AQNR, two of the angles at the vertices Q and R) are
right angles. Therefore, the sum of the their angles of the quadrilateral is
180.
A +QNR=180
(i)
From the triangle QNR,

r 1+ r 2+ QNR=180
(ii)
Comparing these two equations, we get

r 1+ r 2=A
(iii)
The total deviation is the sum of deviations at the two faces, = (i r1) +
(e r2) that is,
=i+e A
(iv)
Thus, the angle of deviation depends on the angle of incidence. A plot

between the angle of deviation and angle of incidence is shown in the graph.
You can see that, in general, any given value of , except for i = e,
corresponds to two values i and hence of e. This, in fact, is expected from
the symmetry of i and e in Eq. (9.35), i.e., remains the same if I and e are
interchanged. Physically, this is related to the fact that the path of ray in
diagram can be traced back, resulting in the same angle of deviation. At the
minimum deviation Dm, the refracted ray inside the prism becomes parallel
to its base. We have
= m ,
i=e
This implies:
r 1=r 2
Equation (iii) gives:
2 r= Ar=
A
2
(v)
In the same way, Eq. (iv) gives

m=2 i A ,i=
A+ m
2
(vi)
The refractive index of the prism (by Snells Law) is:
n21 =
n2
=
n1
A+ m
)
2
A
sin
2
sin (
( )
(vii)
The angles A and m can be measured experimentally. Equation (vii) thus

provides a method of determining refractive index of the material of the
prism.
In my working model of this experiment, I have made use of a laser light to
observe the deviation that is caused by the prism. The deviation is thereafter
measured by measuring the angle of incidence and angle of emergence by
the equation (iv), i.e.
=i+e A
The observations have been noted in the observation table accordingly.

Thereafter, I have calculated the refractive index of the prism
OBSERVATIONS
Angle of prism = 60 .
S.
Angle of Incidence
No.
(i0)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
600
550
450
400
350
Angle of
Emergence( e
430
420
450
530
650
Angle of Deviation(
)
430
370
300
330
400
CALCULATIONS
From the readings above, a plot of
vs. i0 can be made. It is visible from
the graph and the readings as well, that the minimum angle of deviation is =
30 .
Also, refractive index of the prism can be calculated by the equation:-
n21 =
n2
=
n1
A+ m
)
2
A
sin
2
sin (
( )
Hence refractive index of the prism (n21) is =
sin ( 45 )
sin ( 30 )
= 2 = 1.414
Precautions
Angle of incidence should lie b/w 35-60 degree.
Same angle of prism should be used for all observation.
SOURCES OF ERROR
The angle of incidence and angle of emergence might not be observed
accurately.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following resources have been cited to complete the project:
www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/textbook/textbook.htm - The NCERT Textbooks

online service.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prism - The Wikipedia article on Prisms.
www.google.com Search engine for other content.
Textbooks for reference:
NCERT Physics Class 12
Halliday/ Resnick/Walker Physics by Manish K. Singhal

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What is the aim of the experiment?

What theory is used in calculating the refractive index and minimum angle of deviation?

PHYSICS Project

From the triangle QNR,

Comparing these two equations, we get

Thus, the angle of deviation depends on the angle of incidence. A plot

Equation (iii) gives:

In the same way, Eq. (iv) gives

The refractive index of the prism (by Snells Law) is:

The angles A and m can be measured experimentally. Equation (vii) thus

The observations have been noted in the observation table accordingly.

vs. i0 can be made. It is visible from

Also, refractive index of the prism can be calculated by the equation:-

Hence refractive index of the prism (n21) is =

www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/textbook/textbook.htm - The NCERT Textbooks

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