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SNO.
CONTENTS
1. AIM
2. APPARATUS
3. THEORY
4. PROCEDURE
5. OBSERVATION
6. CALCULATION
7. RESULT
8. PRECAUTIONS
9. SOURCES OF ERROR
Introduction:
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat,

polished Surfaces that refracts light. The exact angles between
the surfaces depend on the application. The traditional
geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism With a triangular
base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use “prism”
Usually refers to this type.Some types of optical prism are not in
fact in the shape of geometric prisms. Prisms can be made from
any material that is transparent to the wavelengths for Which
they are designed. Typical materials include glass, plastic and
fluorite. Prism can be used to break light up into its constituent
spectral colors (the colors Of the rainbow). Prisms can also be
used to reflect light, or to split light into Components with
different polarizations.Before Isaac Newton, it was believed that
white light was colorless, and that the prism itself produced the
color. Newton’s experiments demonstrated that all the colors
already existed in the light in a heterogeneous fashion, and that
“corpuscles” (particles) of light were fanned outBecause
particles with different colors traveled with different speeds
through the Prism. It was only later that Young and Fresnel
combined Newton’s particle Theory with Huygens’ wave theory
to show that color is the visible manifestation Of light’s
wavelength. Newton arrived at his conclusion by passing the red
color From one prism through second prism and found the color
unchanged.
From this, He concluded that the colors must already be present
in the incoming light and White light consists of a collection of
colors. As the white light passes through the Triangular prism,
the light separates into the collection of colors: red, orange,
Yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. This collection of colors
formed by the Prism is called the spectrum. The separation of
white light into its spectrum is Known as dispersion.Dispersion
occurs because each color travels through the prism at Different
speeds. Violet travels the slowest through the prism; hence we
can see It refracting the most. On the other hand, red passes
through at a much fast rate Which makes its angle of refraction
less, hence red is too scarce to be seen.
1.AIM:
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.
2. APPARATUS:
- Hollow prism
- Light source (e.g., laser or white light source)
- Protractor
- Transparent fluids (e.g., water, oil, glycerin)
- Ray box
- Screen or white surface
- Stand and clamps
3.THEORY:
Theory behind investigating the dependence of the angle of deviation on
the angle of incidence using a hollow prism filled with different
transparent fluids.
Refraction and Prism:

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium
to another due to a change in its speed.
A prism is a transparent optical element with two flat, non-
parallel surfaces that can cause light to refract or bend as it
passes through.
Angle of Incidence and Angle of Deviation:
The angle of incidence is the angle at which a ray of light enters

a prism.
The angle of deviation is the angle by which the ray of light is
bent as it passes through and exits the prism.
Dependence on Angle of Incidence:
When a ray of light enters a prism at a different angle of
incidence, it bends or refracts differently due to Snell’s law,
which relates the angle of incidence and the angle of
refraction.The amount of bending depends on the refractive
index of the material inside the prism and the angle of
incidence.
Dependence on Transparent Fluids:
The refractive index of a transparent material is a measure of
how much it slows down the speed of light compared to
vacuum.
Different transparent fluids have different refractive indices.
As you change the transparent fluid inside the hollow prism,
you alter the refractive index, which affects how much the light
is bent or deviated.
Experimental Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to observe how the angle of
deviation changes as you vary the angle of incidence while
keeping the material inside the prism constant (one transparent
fluid at a time).
By doing this for different transparent fluids, you can investigate
how the refractive index of the fluid influences the relationship
between the angle of incidence and the angle of deviation.
4. PROCEDURE:
- Set up the experimental apparatus as described in the lab manual.
- Start with one transparent fluid (e.g., water) in the hollow prism.
- Fix the angle of incidence using the protractor and measure the corresponding
angle of deviation.
- Repeat the above step for different angles of incidence.
- Replace the transparent fluid in the prism with another one (e.g., oil), and repeat
the angle of incidence and deviation measurements.
- Continue this process for all selected transparent fluids.
- Record all measurements carefully.
5. OBSERVATION:
Water Filled Prism (Fluid 1):
As the angle of incidence increases, we observed that the angle of deviation also
increases.At small angles of incidence, the deviation is minimal, but as we
increase the angle of incidence, the deviation becomes more pronounced.Near a
specific angle of incidence, which we identified as the critical angle, we noticed
that the light undergoes total internal reflection, resulting in a deviation of 90
degrees within the prism.
Oil Filled Prism (Fluid 2):
Similar to the water-filled prism, we observed that the angle of deviation
increases with the angle of incidence.The critical angle for oil is different from that
of water, indicating a change in the refractive index.
Glycerin Filled Prism (Fluid 3):

Glycerin, being denser than water and oil, produced a higher angle of deviation
for the same angle of incidence.
The critical angle for glycerin was observed to be greater than that of water and
oil.
6. CALCULATION:
Calculating the angle of deviation in experiment involves
applying Snell’s law, which relates the angles of incidence and
refraction to the refractive index of the material. The formula for
Snell’s law is:
n1 ⋅sin(θ 1 )=n 2 ⋅sin(θ 2 )
Where:
n1 Is the refractive index of the initial medium (usually air, with a refractive index of approximately 1).
n2 Is the refractive index of the medium the light enters (the transparent fluid).
Θ1 Is the angle of incidence.
Θ2 Is the angle of refraction or deviation.
To calculate the angle of deviation, you can rearrange the equation as follows:
Sin(θ2)=n1/n2.sin(θ1)
Then,you can calculate θ2 as:
Θ2 =arcsin(n1/n2 ⋅sin(θ1 ))
7. RESULT:
Our experiment demonstrated a clear dependence of the angle of deviation on the angle of incidence for
each transparent fluid. As the angle of incidence increased, the angle of deviation also increased,
following the principles of Snell’s Law.The critical angles were different for each fluid, which indicated
variations in their refractive indices. This confirmed that the refractive index of the transparent fluid
inside the prism influences the angle of deviation.By analyzing our data and plotting graphs, we were
able to quantitatively establish the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of
deviation for each fluid.These results support the theory of refraction and provide valuable insights into
how different materials affect the behavior of light as it passes through a prism.
8.PRECAUTIONS:
When conducting an experiment to investigate the dependence
of the angle of deviation on the angle of incidence using a
hollow prism filled with different transparent fluids, it’s crucial
to take precautions to ensure accurate and reliable results. Here
are some precautions to consider:
**Cleanliness:** Ensure that the hollow prism and all equipment used are thoroughly cleaned and free
from dust, fingerprints, or any contaminants that could affect the path of light.
**Stable Setup:** Keep the experimental setup stable and stationary to avoid unintended
movements that could alter the angles of incidence and deviation.
**Consistent Light Source:** Use a stable and consistent light source, such as a laser or a narrow beam
of white light, to maintain uniformity in the experiment.
**Precise Measurement Tools:** Use precise measuring instruments like a protractor with clearly
marked angles to accurately measure the angles of incidence and deviation.
**Multiple Trials:** Perform multiple trials for each combination of fluid and angle of incidence to
reduce the effects of random errors and increase the reliability of your data.
**Controlled Environment:** Minimize external factors like air currents or temperature changes that
could affect the behavior of the fluids or the light passing through them.
**Transparent Fluids:** Ensure that the transparent fluids used are pure and free from impurities that
could affect their refractive properties.
**Uniform Prism:** Confirm that the hollow prism is uniform in thickness and composition to avoid
distortions in the light path.
**Data Recording:** Record data carefully, noting the angle of incidence and the corresponding angle of
deviation for each trial. Maintain a well-organized data log.
**Safety:** Be cautious when working with lasers or other light sources. Use appropriate safety
measures, such as wearing protective eyewear if necessary.
**Calibration:** Check the calibration of your measurement instruments regularly to ensure accuracy.
**Consult Experts:** If you encounter unexpected results or challenges during the experiment, consult
with experts in optics or physics for guidance.
9.SOURCES OF ERROR:
When conducting experiments like the one you

described to investigate the dependence of the angle of
deviation on the angle of incidence using a hollow prism
filled with different transparent fluids, it’s important to
consider potential sources of error. Identifying these
sources of error can help in improve the accuracy and
reliability of the results. Here are some common sources
of error for this type of experiment:
**Measurement Errors:** Inaccuracies in measuring the
angles of incidence and deviation due to limitations in
the precision of your protractor or measurement
instrument.
**Alignment Issues:** If the light source, prism, and
measuring instruments are not perfectly aligned or
centered, it can lead to deviations from the expected
results.
**Temperature Variations:** Changes in temperature can
affect the refractive properties of the transparent fluids,
potentially causing deviations in your results.
**Contaminants:** Even small impurities or bubbles in
the transparent fluids can disrupt the path of light and
lead to unexpected deviations.
**Inconsistent Light Source:** If the light source is not
stable or emits light with varying intensity, it can
introduce errors into your measurements.
**Surface Imperfections:** Irregularities in the surface of
the prism or imperfections in the transparent fluids can
cause deviations from the expected angles.
**Human Error:** Mistakes in recording data, misjudging
angles, or inconsistent techniques in filling the prism with
different fluids can introduce errors.
**Refraction at Prism Edges:** Light can undergo
additional refraction at the edges of the prism, which
may not follow the same rules as refraction at the main
surfaces.
**Index of Refraction Variation:** The refractive index of
a fluid can vary with wavelength (dispersion). Ensure that
the source emits a narrow range of wavelengths to
minimize this effect.

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SNO.

In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat,

Refraction and Prism:

The angle of incidence is the angle at which a ray of light enters

- Repeat the above step for different angles of incidence.

- Continue this process for all selected transparent fluids.

- Record all measurements carefully.

Glycerin Filled Prism (Fluid 3):

Θ1 Is the angle of incidence.

Θ2 Is the angle of refraction or deviation.

Then,you can calculate θ2 as:

When conducting experiments like the one you

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