2018-2019

Physics INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
“NEWTONIAN REFLECTING
TELESCOPE”

Supervised by: -
Submitted by:-
MRS MANJU RAWAT
SrishtiSharma
PHYSICS
Class :- XII ‘ A’
Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2
Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2
Colaba
Colaba
Mumbai
Mumbai
Content

Certificate

Acknowledgement

Aim of the project

Theory

Requirements

Observation

Result

Precautions

Bibliography
2|Page
This is to certify that SRISHTI SHARMAof class XII-A has
successfully completed the investigatory project on
“ Newtonian reflecting telescope” under the guidance of Mrs.
Manju Rawat during the year 2018-19 in the partial
fulfillment of physics practical examination conducted by
CBSE.

3|Page
I would like to sincerely and profusely thank my physics
teacher Mrs. Manju Rawat, for her able guidance and
support in completing my project.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to the principal for

providing me with all the facility that was required.

Last but not the least, I would extend my gratitude

towards all the teaching and non-teaching staff of Kendriya
Vidyalaya No. 2 and towards my parents and friends who
has supported me to complete this project.

SRISHTI SHARMA
SRISHTI SHARMA

4|Page
5|Page
A reflecting telescope (also called a reflector) is a
telescope that uses a single or a combination of curved
mirrors that reflect light and form an image.

The reflecting telescope was invented in the 17th century,

by Isaac Newton, as an alternative to the refracting
telescope which, at that time, was a design that suffered
from severe chromatic aberration.

TYPES OF
REFLECTING
TELESCOPE

1.CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE
The Cassegrain reflector is
a combination of a primary
concave mirror and a
secondary convex mirror,
often used in optical
telescopes and radio
antennas. Working of a
cassegrain telescope:
 The classic Cassegrain telescope consists of a
parabolic reflector (primary concave mirror) and
a -hyperbolic mirror (secondary convex mirror).
6|Page

 The parabolic shape of the mirror helps in gathering

light, similar to the way that a refractor gathers
light using an objective lens.
 The hyperbolic secondary mirror reflects light,
such that it is focussed onto the hole in the
primary mirror. The eyepiece is located behind
the telescope.
 Note: The folded optical path in this telescope
makes it compact and portable.

2.NEWTONIAN TELESCOPE
a reflecting telescope in which the light from the
main mirror is deflected by a small flat secondary
mirror set at 45°, sending it to a magnifying
eyepiece in the side of the telescope.
Working of a Newtonian telescope:
  Light first enters the top of the telescope tube. At
the lower end there is a primary mirror that is a
concave mirror.
7|Page

 This mirror reflects the light back upwards. In order

to prevent the image to be focused in front of the
tube opening (and hence obscured by your head!),
there is a secondary mirror inside the top of the
tube.
 This is a plane mirror which deflects the light
beam by 90°, hence directing it out the side
of the tube.
 The light enters into an eyepiece for observing.
Focusing takes place by turning a focus wheel on
the focuser so that the eyepiece is moved towards
or away from the telescope tube.

8|Page
1.PVC pipe
2.Concave mirror of large focal length
3.Plane mirror
4.Eyepiece
5.Eyepiece holder
6.Paint
7.Sand paper
8.Drill machine
9. hardware components to hold the optical
system in place
9|Page
Step 1

First to know the ‘focal length’ or ‘focal distance’ of the

concave mirror , Go
outside on a bright day and try to focus a distant object
[such as a tree or a building] and a white screen.

Step 2

Adjust your mirror until you can see the object focused on a
very fine point on your paper. The distance between the
mirror and the paper at this point is the ‘focal length’.
Measure it with a tape measure and write down the focal
length
Step 3

Take a pvc tube with a diameter similar to that of the

concave mirror. It must also be at least as long as the focal
length of the mirror. And paint it black from inside.
Step 4

Fix the concave

mirror in one of
the tube ends
with its
mirrored
surface turned
inwards with
the help of
hardware
components to
hold the mirror
system.

Step 5

Make a mark on the tube (that

should measure eyepiece holder in
the place. Make a hole of diameter
equal to the eyepiece holder and
attach it to the tube with help of
hardware components.

Step 6

Fix a plane mirror at 45degree

intercept from the principal axis
of the mirror. This plane mirror
should be carefully fixed just
below the eyepiece holder so
that it can perfectly reflect the
incoming rays from the far-off
object.

11 | P a g e
 Plan
e Step 7
mirr
or
at Also fix a
45 finder
degr
ee telescope
inte (basically a
rce mini
pt
just
telescope)
bel above the
ow eyepiece
eye
piec
holder for the
e easy location
hol of the object
der to be seen.

Step 8
With the help
of screws
fixed behind
the concave
and the plane
mirror, adjust
the apparatus
so that the
concave
mirror and the
lens get
aligned with
the finder
telescope.
 Now the telescope can
be used to see far-off
heavenly objects at
night.

12 | P a g e
The focal length of the concave mirror used is
-----------------
The length of the tube used ----------------
The use of telescope for night sky gazing:
1.Moon gazing
Date: 31st august 2017
Time: normal night time (around 10 pm)
Place: iit powai school
terrace Images

2.Super blue blood

moon Date:
st
January 31 , 2018
Time: around 08:00 pm or 8:30pm
13 | P a g e
 Time duration: lasted for around 100minutes
Place: kv2 colaba school terrace
Images:

14 | P a g e
3. Date: July 27th and 28th, 2018
Time: around mid-night [12am]
Time duration: the blood moon was not visible for
a prominent duration because of cloudy sky
(monsoon)
Place: kv2 colaba school
terrace Images
15 | P a g e
A simple Newtonian reflecting telescope has been
made which can be use to see magnified image of
far-off objects or heavenly objects.
16 | P a g e
1.Caution should be taken while handling the
concave mirror. The surface of the mirror should
not be touched by bare hands or anything else.
2.The plane mirror should be placed cutting
45⁰ intercept with the principal axis of the
concave mirror.
3.The plane mirror should be perfectly placed
just below the eyepiece holder.
4.The length of the tube used should not be less
than the focal length of the concave mirror.
Internet websites-

http://www.unawe.org/activity/eu-unawe1314/

http://vigyanprasar.gov.in/science-communication-
programs/astronomy-popularisation/highlights-of-
recently-conducted-programmes/

youtube.com

Wikipedia.com

Googlescholar.com

Books-

NCERT class 12th physics textbook

S.L. Arora class 12th (volume II)

18 | P a g e