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Physics Department

Faculty of Science

An- Najah National University

Experimental Physics (1) - 10221213

Laboratory Report

Prepared by: ‫عزالدين العبوشي‬

Group Number: 1
Title of the Experiment: Prism Spectrometer.

Experiment Serial number: 7

Experiment Number: 7

Performance Date and Day: Date: 02/03/2024 Day: Saturday.

Handling Date and Day: Date: 09/03/2024 Day: Saturday.

Nablus – Palestine
2nd semester- 2023 / 2024
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Table of Contents:

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..3

Objectives……………………………………………………………………………..3

Apparatus……………………………………………………………………………..3

Theory………………………………………………………………………………...4

Procedure……………………………………………………………………………..4

Analysis……………………………………………………………………………….5

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………7

Questions……………………………………………………………………………..7
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Introduction:
A prism spectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the spectral properties
of light. It operates on the principle of dispersion, where light is separated into its
component colors or wavelengths when passed through a prism. The core component,
the prism, exploits the dependence of the refractive index on the wavelength of light,
causing different colors to be bent by different amounts and thus spread out spatially.
This spread, or spectrum, allows for the detailed analysis of the light's composition.
Prism spectrometers are widely used in various fields of science and engineering,
including physics, chemistry, and materials science, for tasks such as identifying
chemical substances, analyzing the properties of materials, and studying the spectral
characteristics of light sources. The instrument typically consists of an entrance slit
for the light source, collimating lenses to produce parallel light beams, a prism to
disperse the light, and a telescope or detector to observe or measure the spectrum. By
measuring the angles at which different wavelengths are refracted by the prism, one
can determine the wavelengths present in the light source and their relative intensities,
providing valuable information about the physical and chemical properties of the
source.

Objectives:
1. Determination of the apex angle of the given prism.

2. Determination of the deflection angle of the (Yellow) light beam as a function of the
incident angle.

3. Determination of the angle of minimum deviation of the yellow line and all other
lines appearing in the spectra.

4. Determination of the refractive index of all appearing color lines.

5. Determination the relation between the refractive index and the wavelength of light.

Apparatus:
→ Spectrometer with two independent scales.

→ Equilateral prism.

→ Power supply and sodium lamp having the following wavelengths of light:
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Theory:
In this experiment, it's possible to ascertain the apex angle of a specified prism by
measuring the angle of light reflection from both of its sides. Additionally, by
orienting the prism such that one of its sides is perpendicular to the incoming light
beam—starting with an incident angle of zero—and progressively increasing this
angle, the variation in the angle of the refracted light can be observed. This allows for
the plotting of the deviation angle against the incident angle, illustrating the
relationship between the two. Furthermore, this setup facilitates an investigation into
the correlation between the refractive index of the prism material and the wavelength
of the light passing through it. All can be summed in the following mathematical
expressions:

𝜽𝟏 + 𝜽𝟐
𝑨= (1)
𝟐

𝑫 +𝑨 (2)
𝒏 𝐬𝐢𝐧( 𝒎 )
= 𝟐
𝒏𝒐 𝑨
𝐬𝐢𝐧( 𝟐 )

Procedure:
It was noted before starting measurements in this experiment, the necessity to adjust
the spectrometer by its telescope system to see the clearest picture. After this, it was
kept as is.

Part (1): Determination of the apex angle of an equilateral prism:

1- The light was put ON and through the telescope was looked in order to see the
yellow light through the opposite slit. The image was made as clear as possible,
and the slit was made as narrow as possible.
2- The prism was placed on the top table of the spectrometer.
3- While watching through the eyepiece of the spectrometer, the telescope was
turned to the right until you an image of the yellow slit formed by reflection on
one side of the prism is detected, and the angle θ1 was registered at this position.
An image formed by refraction characterized by the presence of several colored
lines was noted and skipped.
4- The telescope was turned to the left until another image of the yellow slit object
formed by reflection on the other side of the prism is detected. This angle was
registered as θ2.
5- Eq. (1) was used to determine the apex angle of the prism.
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Part (2): Determining the deflection angle as a function of the incident angle:

1- The table of the spectrometer was adjusted so that the zero indicates the position
of the yellow slit. The proper screw was squeezed to fix this position.
2- The prism was placed on the top table of the spectrometer with its side
perpendicular to the incident light. The incident angle in this case is zero.
3- It was started to increase the incident angle while watching the refracted beam
from the other side of the prism through the eyepiece. Nothing was detected
from 0 to 350.
4- The first refraction position was spotted, the incident angle and the
corresponding deviation angle were both registered.
5- The incident angle was kept increasing in steps of 5 until nothing is detectable
through the eyepiece (about 80). Everything was kept as is in order to perform
the next part.
6- A plot of the incident angle of minimum deviation was made.

Part (3): Determining the angle of minimum deviation of all appearing colors:

1- From the position reached in step 5 of the previous part, the eyepiece was
returned to the position of minimum deviation. A case in which the system was
observed.
2- For accurate measurements, the Vernier angle scale was used to measure the
angle of minimum deviation using all existing colors.
3- A proper table for the measurements and calculations for the refractive index of
each color was made.
4- The colors were replaced by their corresponding wavelengths as shown in the
apparatus.
5- A plot was made between the refractive index as a function of wavelength.
6- Results were compared to the theoretical formula of n (λ).

Analysis:
Part (1):

Upon measuring the angles of reflection from both sides of the prism, the values of θ1
and θ2 respectively are:

𝜽𝟏 = 𝟏𝟐𝟒. 𝟑𝟑°, 𝜽𝟐 = 𝟐𝟒𝟒. 𝟒𝟑°

𝜽𝟐 − 𝜽𝟏 𝟐𝟒𝟒. 𝟒𝟑° − 𝟏𝟐𝟒. 𝟒𝟑°
∴𝑨= = = 𝟔𝟎°
𝟐 𝟐
Since the prism is equilateral, it is quite anticipated that the apex angle is indeed 60o.
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Part (2):
Table (1): Incident angles and their corresponding deviation angles.

Incident Angle Deviation Angle

40 59.033
45 54.083
50 52.350
53.82 52.200
55 52.216
60 52.416
65 53.833
70 56.167
75 56.750
80 62.083

It is observed that with an increase in the angle of incidence, the angle of deviation
decreases until it reaches a minimum. Beyond this point, further increases in the
incident angle cause the deviation angle to start increasing again. It is as well detected
that the minimum deviation angle is 52.2o. This concept is graphically illustrated as the
following:

Angle of Deviation VS. Angle of

Incidence
64
62 y = 0.0195x2 - 2.2367x + 116.32
DEVIATION ANGLE

60
58
56
54
52
50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
INCIDENCE ANGLE

Figure (1): Deviation Angle VS. Incidence Angle.

Part (3):

In this section, the deviation angle was maintained at its minimum value of 52.2 degrees
and then attempted to determine the angle of minimum deviation for all available
colors. The results conform the following:
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Table (2): The color, the wavelength, the deviation angle and the refractive index.

Color λ 𝜽𝑫 n (λ)
Red 613 51.667 1.6548
Green 567.4 52.083 1.6588
Blue 516 52.700 1.6648
Light Blue 498.4 53.083 1.6685
Violet 464 53.350 1.6711

It is possible to conclude that the refractive index is inversely proportional to the

wavelength. To confirm the conclusion, the data is plot and the following graph is
generated:

Refractive Index VS. Wavelength

1.674
1.672
1.67
REFRACTIVE INDEX

1.668
1.666
1.664
1.662
1.66
1.658
1.656
1.654 y = -0.0001x + 1.7242
1.652
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
LAMBDA (NM)

Figure (2): Refractive Index VS. Wavelength.

Conclusion:
To summarize, the experiment successfully met its primary goals: measuring the apex
angle of an equilateral prism, determining the minimum angle of deviation, and
demonstrating that the refractive index depends on the wavelength of light.

Questions:
1. What are the major parts of the given spectrometer?

Entrance slit, collimator and collimated lens, protractor, prism table, Vernier
table, telescope.

2. Prove equation 1.
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3. Does the refractive index of the prism differ for different

colors? if yes, write down the formula of n as a function of the
wavelength explaining all variables.

The dispersion of white light into its constituent seven colors, represented by
the acronym VIBGYOR, occurs because the prism's glass refracts each color
at a different angle. This variation in the angle of deviation is due to the
different wavelengths of each color.
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4. Redraw fig.2 in a manner that shows the reflected beams in the

two sides of the prism and the refracted beams through its
base. (use colors).

5. Make a comparison between the spectra obtained by prism and

that obtained by diffraction grating spectrometer.

Spectra produced through a diffraction grating appear on both sides of the zero
order, displaying patterns of maxima and minima. Here, colors are organized
from high to low energy around the zero order, with colors of lower energy
("high wavelength") exhibiting larger diffraction angles. Conversely, spectra
generated by a prism are observed on a single side, and the arrangement of
colors is in reverse order.