Measuring Refractive Index Using Raspberry Pi
Abstract
The refractive index is a fundamental optical property characteristic of every substance, serving as a distinct identifier that varies predictably as a function of the operational wavelength of light. In traditional experimental physics, measuring this parameter typically relies on manual optical instruments and mechanical setups, which are often time-consuming, sensitive to environmental disturbances, and prone to user error. To overcome these limitations, this study presents an automated, highly repeatable approach to measuring the refractive index of liquids based on Snell’s law of refraction. By integrating digital image processing methods directly onto a vision-enabled Raspberry Pi microcontroller, the system captures light beam deflection through liquid samples, tracks pixel displacement patterns in real time, and automatically computes the refractive index. This edge-computing setup offers an accurate, cost-effective, and fully automated alternative to conventional laboratory measurements.