OPERATIONAL MANUAL

REFRACTIVE INDEX (R. I.)

OF TRANSPARENT LIQUID BY
CONCAVE MIRROR

Manufactured / Marketed By

,
SN. 37/2, "Ashtavinayak Indl. Estate",
Parvati Nagar, Dhayari-Narhe Road,
Next to Pari Robotics, Narhe, Pune - 41
Email: xtreme.pune@gmail.com
Web Site: www.xtremesolutions.org.in
Title: Determine refractive index (R. I.) of transparent liquid by concave mirror.

Prior Concepts: Concepts of reflection and refraction of light, Snell’s law, image
formation by spherical mirror.

New Concepts:
Proposition 1:- Concept related to spherical mirror:

Concave Mirror

C = center of curvature
PP’ = Optical axis or principal axis
P = Pole or vertex of concave mirror
CP = radius of curvature

Proposition 2:- We are using concave mirror to find R. I. of water. In case of

concave mirror, when the object is placed at center of curvature, the image
formed is real, inverted and of the same size at apparent depth.

Learning Objectives: -
Intellectual Skills:
1. Observe refraction of light.
2. Remove parallax between object and its image.
3. Draw conclusions from observations and relate them with propositions.
Motor Skills: Measure distances accurately.

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Apparatus: Concave mirrors, index pin, retort stand, a meter scale or plumb line,
transparent liquid (say water).

Diagram:

Formula:
Refractive index of water =  = Real Depth

Apparent depth
R1

R2
Procedure:
1. Keep the concave mirror on the horizontal surface.
2. Clamp the index pin (object) horizontally to a retort stand such that the tip of
the pin is exactly at the center of the mirror.
3. Look from above the pin and adjust the position of pin by moving it up or down
so that it coincides with its own image without parallax.
[When there is no relative motion between pin and its image even when the
line of sight is changed, the parallax is said to be removed. If the pin is moving
faster than image, move the pin down and if the image moving faster than pin,
move the pin away (upwards) from the mirror.]

3 R.I. OF LIQUID BY CONCAVE MIRROR | XTREME SOLUTIONS, PUNE-41

4. Measure the distance (R1) of the pin from pole of the mirror with help of scale
or plumb line. This distance is equal to the radius of curvature of the mirror.
Pour a small quality of water (given liquid) on the concave mirror.
5. Lower the pin and adjust its position again so that it coincides with its own image
without parallax.
6. Measure the distance R2 of the pin from the pole of the mirror.
7. Repeat the same procedure for salt solution of different concentration as shown in
the table below.
R1
8. Calculate refractive index  in each case by using formula  
R2
Observations:
Atmospheric Pressure = h = ………. cm of Hg
Room temperature = t = …………………°c.

Observation table:
Table: To calculate refractive index of different concentration of water

Perpendicular distance Perpendicular distance Refractive

Concentration of between index pin between index pin index of
Obs. water Liquid
(object) and pole of the (object) and pole of the
No. gm/lit R1
mirror (without liquid) mirror (with liquid) 
CP=(R1) in cm C’P= (R2) in cm R2
0
1 (100 ml Pure water)
0.005
2 (100ml Pure water +
5 gm salt)
0.01
3 (100ml Pure
water + 10 gm salt)
0.015
4 (100ml Pure water +
15 gm salt)

Conclusion: Refractive index of water (increases/decreases) with increase in

concentration

Precautions:-
 The distance between the pin and the surface of the mirror (without liquid) is the radius
of curvature of the concave mirror.
 Keep the pin in a horizontal position.
 While measuring the distance of the pin from the surface of the liquid (or mirror) hold
the scale in vertical position.
 Remove the parallax between the pin and its image carefully. For this adjust the pin so
that the image of its tips coincides with the tip of the pin itself.
 The quantity of the liquid added to the mirror should not be very small.
 The part of the upper surface of the liquid in contact with the mirror is slightly curved.
Hence, consider the central part of the liquid while determining R’.
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