Spherometer

Aim: To find radius of curvature of a convex surface using spherometer

Apparatus and Material required: Spherometer, plane glass sheet, convex surface

Theroy: Radius of curvature R= (l2/6h) + (h/2)

Procedure:

Observations: Least Count: ( Pitch/No. of divisions on circular Scale) = (1mm/10) / 10 = 0.01mm=0.001cm

Pitch=(distance moved/no. of rotations)= 0.1cm=1mm

Zero error= Positive error= Negative error=

(0 of Circular scale below) (0 of circular scale above)

Correction= cm Correction= cm

SNo Pitch scale Reading of circular Reading on plane glass Height (h) =
reading (PSR) scale on the convex plate PSR+(CSR X LC)+(-e) cm =
surface No.of Circular
cm complete scale PSR + (100+(r1-r2))LC+(-e) cm
(r1) rotations reading (r2)
1
2
3
4
5
6

Calculations: Mean height h = (h1+h2+h3+h4+h5+h6)/6 cm

Mean distance between any two edges= l = (AB+BC+CA)/3 cm

Radius of curvature R= (l2/6h) + (h/2)cm

Result: The radius of curvature of given convex surface is found to be: ------------cm

Precautions:

Sources of error: