MR.

WALSH

CSEC Physics
Topic: Lenses
Lesson Objectives:
1. Illustrate the effect of converging and diverging lenses on a beam
of parallel rays.

2. Define the terms: principal axis, principal focus, focal length, focal
plane and magnification.

3. Differentiate between real and virtual images. 4.

Apply the equations for magnification.

5. Determine the focal length of a converging lens.

ACTION OF
LENSES
Lenses
Lenses often have spherical surfaces made of transparent material such as glass or Perspex. As a
result of their shape, lenses will cause parallel light rays falling on them to either ‘come to a point’
when they leave the lens (or converge), or ‘spread out’ (or diverge) when the light rays leave the
lens. All lenses, regardless of their shape, will have one or the other of these two actions on
parallel rays. Also, the word used to describe a particular lens will depend on how it affects a
parallel beam of light or parallel light rays. If the lens causes convergence of the parallel rays, it is
called a converging lens. If it causes divergence of parallel rays, it is called a diverging lens.
Types of lenses
A convex lens is thickest in the centre and is also called a converging lens due to its ability to bend light rays
inwards. You may have used one as a magnifying glass or as a burning glass. A concave or diverging lens is
thinnest in the centre and spreads light rays outwards; it always gives a diminished image. The centre of a lens is
called its optical centre, C, the line through C at right angles to the lens is called the principal axis.

A convex lens
A
concave
lens
 A diverging lens has a virtual focus.

NOTE WELL
Lenses can either be spherical (have refracting surfaces shaped like the
curved surface of a sphere) or cylindrical (have refracting surfaces shaped
like the curved surface of a cylinder).

The syllabus only requires knowledge of spherical lenses.

How converging and diverging lenses
work https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=jQqF76ZkSLU
Principal axis

The principal axis of a lens is an imaginary line along which a ray must travel in order to pass through the lens
undeviated. This line, labelled (1), is clearly perpendicular to the lens if drawn from the centre of the lens
surface. This definition would apply to both converging and diverging
lenses.
…continuing
Principal plane

The principal plane of a lens is the plane of symmetry that passes through the edge of the lens. This plane of
symmetry, labelled (2), must clearly pass through the geometrical centre of the lens. Its importance lies in the
fact that in constructing ray diagrams rays are considered to undergo refraction at this plane instead of at the
two lens surfaces.
…continuing
Optical centre

The centre of a lens is called its optical centre, C. Rays passing through the optical centre of a lens,
both converging and diverging, do so without deviation and without lateral displacement.
…continuing
Principal focus

The principal focus F, of a lens is that point on the principal axis at which rays travelling parallel to
the principal axis intersect (for a converging lens) or appear to have come from (for a diverging
lens) after being refracted by the lens. Also, since rays can fall on the lens from either side, there
will be two foci for each type of lens, one on each side of the lens and the same distance from the
optical centre.

The principal focus of a converging lens is a real focus, since rays actually converge there. The
principal focus of a diverging lens is virtual, since the rays diverge as they leave the lens and must
be produced backwards to give the position of the image.

…continuing
…continuing
Focal length

The focal length of a lens is the distance from the principal focus to the optical centre of the lens. This distance
is used in problems involving the action of lenses. It is, perhaps, the most important characteristic of a lens. The
symbol used to represent it is ‘f ’.
…continuing
Focal plane

The focal plane of a lens is the plane passing through the principal focus at right angles to the
principal axis.
 IMAGE
FORMATION
Difference between real and
virtual images
What is a Real Image?

Real images are the type of images that are formed due to the convergence of light rays at a point
after being reflected or refracted from a mirror or lens.

What is a Virtual Image?

The images that only appear to be formed at a position behind a mirror is termed as a virtual
image. Actually, the image is not present behind the mirror. A virtual image forms when reflected
or refracted light rays diverge.

…continuing
Parameters Real Image Virtual Image
Definition The image formed when rays of light The image formed when rays of
meet at a point after light appear to meet at a point.
reflection/refraction.
Interaction Rays actually converge. Rays only appear to converge.
of light
rays

Image The image formed is inverted. The image formed is upright or erect.
Formed

Lens used Converging Lens. Diverging Lens and converging lens.

Image We can obtain a real image on a screen. We cannot obtain a virtual image on
That is, the image can be cast on a the screen. In fact, the Image appears
Reception
screen. to be on the mirror or lens itself.
Ray diagrams
Information about images formed by lenses can be obtained by drawing two of the following

rays: a. A ray parallel to the principal axis which is refracted through the principal focus, F. b. A

ray through the optical centre C, which is undeviated if the lens is thin. c. A ray through the

principal focus F, which is refracted parallel to the principal axis.

For the ray diagrams below, the actual lens is drawn; however, for exam purposes, only a
straight vertical line (the principal plane) must be drawn to show the refraction of the light.

Ray diagram 1
 The object is

beyond 2F. Therefore, the image is between F and 2F, real, inverted and smaller.

Ray diagram 2
The object is at 2F. Therefore, the image formed is also at 2F, real, inverted and the same size as
the object.

Ray diagram 3
The object is between 2F and F. Therefore, the image formed is beyond 2F, real, inverted and
larger.

Ray diagram 4
The object is between F and C. Therefore, the image is formed behind the object, virtual, upright
and larger. A magnifying glass is the result of such an arrangement.

Magnification & the Lens Equation

The linear magnification (how much bigger or smaller an image is than the object) m, is given
 ℎ������ℎ�� ���� ����������
by: m =

ℎ
=
ℎ������ℎ�� ���� ������������ ��
ℎ��or m =���������������� ���� ���������� ��������
��������

���������������� ���� ������������ ��������

��
�������� = ��

The lens equation which is used to determine the focal length of a converging lens is as follows:

1 1
��= �� + ��

1
 Where “f” is the focal length, “u” is the object distance and “v” is the image distance.

Points to note for the lens equation

The full statement of this formula is the ‘Real-is-Positive’ or ‘R-P’ lens formula. In using the
formula, we must know the signs (positive or negative) to be given to each of the quantities u, v
and f.

We give a positive sign to distances associated with real objects, real images and real principal foci
and a negative sign to distances relating to virtual objects, virtual images and virtual principal foci.

In effect, we associate ‘realness’ with a positive sign and ‘virtualness’ with a negative sign.
 Apparatus
needed to
measure
the focal
length of a
lens
Experiment
to determine
the focal length of a lens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=e77LYIFdqvw
 SUMMARY

Practice Questions

1. A lens placed 15 cm from an object produces a real image 30 cm from itself. Calculate the focal
 length of the lens and state whether the lens is converging or diverging.

2. A lens forms a virtual image of a real object placed 40 cm from itself. The distance of the image
from the lens is 60 cm. Determine the nature and focal length of the lens.

3. How far must an object be placed from a diverging lens of focal length 20 cm if it is to form an
image of the object with a magnification of ½?

4. Where should an object be placed on the axis of a lens, in order that the image formed by the
lens might be as large as the object? The focal length of the lens is 30 cm.
 Solutio
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The
end