INTRODUCTION

In optics, a prism is a transparent

optical element with flat, polished
surfaces that refract 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. A 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.

PRISM AND NATURE OF LIGHT

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 out because
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 a
second prism and found the color
unchanged. From this, he
concluded that the colors must
already be present in the incoming
light thus, the prism did not
create colors, but merely separated
colors that are already there. He
also used a lens and a second

prism to recompose the spectrum

back into white light. This
experiment has become a classic
example of the methodology
introduced during the scientific
revolution. The results of this
experiment dramatically
transformed the field of
metaphysics, leading to John
Locke's primary vs secondary
quality distinction. Newton
discussed prism dispersion in great
detail in his book Opticks. [1] He
also introduced the use of more
than one prism to control
dispersion.[2] Newton's description
of his experiments on prism
dispersion was qualitative, and is
quite readable. A quantitative were
introduced in the 1980s.

THEORY

HOW DOES A PRISM WORK?

Light changes speed as it moves

from one medium to another (for
example, from air into the glass of
the prism). This speed change
causes the light to be refracted and
to enter the new medium at a
different angle (Huygens principle).
The degree of bending of the light's
path depends on the angle that the
incident beam of light makes with

the surface, and on the ratio

between the refractive indices of
the two media (Snell's law). The
refractive index of many materials
(such as glass) varies with the
wavelength or color of the light
used, a phenomenon known as
dispersion. This causes light of
different colors to be refracted
differently and to leave the prism
at different angles, creating an
effect similar to a rainbow. This can
be used to separate a beam of
white light into its constituent
spectrum of colors. Prisms will
generally disperse light over a
much larger frequency bandwidth
than diffraction gratings, making
them useful for broad-spectrum
spectroscopy. Furthermore, prisms
do not suffer from complications

arising from overlapping spectral

orders, which all gratings have.
Prisms are sometimes used for the
internal reflection at the surfaces
rather than for dispersion. If light
inside the prism hits one of the
surfaces at a sufficiently steep
angle, total internal reflection
occurs and all of the light is
reflected. This makes a prism a
useful substitute for a mirror in
some situations.
Angle of Minimum Deviation
The minimum value of angle of
deviation, is called angle of
minimum deviation. It is
represented by the symbol Dm.
For same angle of deviation (D)
there are two values of angle of
incidence. One value equals i and

other value equals 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.
AIM
To find out the refractive indices of
different liquids using a hollow
prism
APPARATUS REQUIRED
Hollow glass prism
Various liquids like water, spirt
and coconut oil.
Board pins
Drawing board

PROCEDURE
Fix a white sheet of paper on the
drawing board with help of
drawing pins.
Keep the prism and mark the
outline of it as ABC.
Drop a normal PQ on the
side AB.

 Draw the angle of incidence in

accordance with the normal PQ
and place 2 pins so that they
appear to be in the straight line.
Place the prism filled with given
sample of liquid ,on the marked
outline ABC.
Now take the pins and place
them on the side AC so that all
the 4 pins appear to be in same
line.
Remove the prism and draw the
line joining the points so
obtained.
Mark the diagram as shown in
the figure.

 Repeat this with different liquids

and different angle of incidence.

Observation
Benzaldehyde
S.n a (angle i (angle
o of prism) of
incidence)
1 60
30
2 60
35
3 60
37.5
4 60
39

d (angle
of
deviation)
45
42
40
42

60

40

45

U=sin((60+40)/2)/sin(30)
= 1.504
Water
S.n a (angle i (angle
o of prism) of
incidence)
1 60
30
2 60
35
3 60
40
4 60
45
5 60
50
6 60
55

d (angle
of
deviation)
25
22
20
22
25
28

U=sin((60+22)/2)/sin(30)
= 1.306
Dil. Sulphuric Acid

S.n a (angle i (angle

o of prism) of
incidence)
1 60
20
2 60
30
3 60
35
4 60
40
5 60
45

d (angle
of
deviation)
33
30
25
29
30

U=sin((60+25)/2)/sin(30)
= 1.351

Conclusion
Refractive indices at room
temperature:
Benzaldehyde
oActual:
1.546

oExperimental: 1.504
o
Water
oActual:
1.33
oExperimental: 1.306
o
Dil . Sulphuric acid
oActual:
1.355
oExperimental: 1.351

Precautions
Angle of incidence should lie b/w
35-60 degree.

 Pins should be vertically fixed

and should lie in same line.
Distance b/w two points should
not be less than 10mm.
Same angle of prism should
be used for all observation.
Arrow head should be marked to
represent emergent and incident
ray.

Record your observation.