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Experiment 10:
Laboratory Report

Jesus Alfonso C. Catahay, Oneil D. Cerdena,
Robelle L. Cordova, and Yonnalyn A. Dalangin

Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila Philippines


Abstract


I. Introduction

II. Theory
Equation 1. Thin Lens Equation: Computation for
Focal Length

Where f is the focal length, d
o
is the object distance,
and di is the image distance

Equation 2. Computation for the 1
st
Image
Distance

Where di
1
is the 1
st
image distance, f1

is the focal
length of the 1
st
lens, and do
1
is the 1
st
object distance

Equation 3. Computation for 2
nd
Object Distance

Where do
2
is the 2nd object distance, and 75 cm is
the distance of the light source/object to the 2
nd
lens,
40cm is the distance of the light source/object to the
1
st
lens and di
1
is the 1
st
image distance

Equation 4. Computation for 2
nd
Image Distance

Where di
1
is the 1
st
image distance, f2

is the focal
length of the 2
nd
lens, and do
2
is the 2
nd
object
distance


Equation 5. Computation for Chromatic and
Spherical Abberations

Where f is the focal length, P is the object distance,
and Q is the image distance

Equation 6. Percent Error
|Computed Value Accepted Value| x 100
Accepted Value
III. Methodology

Figure 1.0 Experimental set up for Activity 1
In Activity 1, the focal length of the
lens was measured. This was done by
allowing the rays of the sun fall on the lens
and a clear image is formed on the screen by
2

moving a black screen back and forth. A
meter stick was used to get the distance
between the lens and the black screen.

Figure 2.0 Experimental set up for Activity 2
In Activity 2, the type of image
formed was characterized by being a real or
a virtual image; diminished or magnified
and inverted or upright. At the zero mark of
the meter stick a light bulb with a drawn
image was placed. The focal length of the
convex lens recorded in Activity 1 was used
as a basis for moving the lens in different
distances.

Figure 3.0 Experimental set up for Activity 3
In Activity 3, the combination of two
lenses were observed and calculated. At the
zero mark of the meter stick, the light bulb
was placed. Two set ups were done, in the
first set up, the lens in Activity 1 was place
at the 40cm mark while the 2
nd
lens was
placed at the 75cm mark. In computing for
the distances, Equation 2, Equation 3 and
Equation 4 were used and it was compared
with the measured distance. The %
difference using the E between the
computed and measured distance of the final
image to the second lens was computed. The
position and final image formed by the
convex lenses were noted. In the 2
nd
set up,
the researchers interchanged the 2
nd
lens to
the 1
st
lens and repeated the activity.
In Activity 4, lens aberration was
experimented and observed. 2 set ups were
done.

Figure 4.0 Experimental set up for Activity 4A
A. The first set up was for the chromatic
aberration, a blue filter was used to cover
the light bulb and the screen was moved
back and forth to get the sharpest image of
the blue filament of the bulb. The distance
of the bulb from the lens, and the distance of
the image from the lens were measured, and
the distances were recorded as P and Q,
respectively. The focal length was computed
using Equation 5, and the procedure was
repeated using the red filter for the bulb.
Data from the red and blue filter were
compared.

Figure 5.0 Experimental set up for Activity 4B
3

B. The second set up was for the
spherical aberration. The lens in activity 1
was covered by a circular piece of black
paper which is slightly smaller than it so
light can pass through the edges. To get the
sharpest image of the filament of the bulb
the screen was adjusted. The distance of the
bulb from the lens, and the distance of the
image from the lens were measured, and the
distances were recorded as P and Q,
respectively. The focal length was computed
using Equation 5 and the results were noted.
The procedure was repeated but a hole was
made in the middle part of the circular piece
of black paper. The focal length of the first
set up and the 2
nd
set up were compared.


IV. Results and Discussion

Activity 1 .
Table 1. Focal Length Of Lens

Focal Length
of Lens:
33 cm
Table 1 above shows the results of Activity
1. Focal length is when refraction acts to
focus all parallel rays to a point referred to
as the principal focal point. The distance
from the lens to that point is the principal
focal length f of the lens
[3]
.

Activity 2
Table 2. Image Formation by a Convex
Lens Results
Object Distance Image Formed
More than Twice
the focal length
Real, diminished,
inverted
Exactly twice the
focal length
Real, magnified,
inverted
Between one focal
length and twice
the focal length
Real, magnified,
inverted
Exactly one focal No image
length
Less than one focal
length
Virtual , magnified,
upright
In Table 2, when the distance is less than the
focal length, the image is virtual, magnified
and upright. If the object is close to the lens
the light rays enter at a sharper angled. This
results in the rays converging away from the
lens. Thus the real image of a closer object
forms further away from the lens than the
real image of a distant object
[4]
A virtual
image is formed at the position where the
paths of the principal rays cross when
projected backward from their paths beyond
the lens.
[5]
When the distance is more than the focal
length, the image is real, magnified and
inverted. If the object is away from the lens
the rays enter at a wider angle. This results
in the rays being refracted at a sharper angle
and the image forming closer to the lens.
[6]

Activity 3.
Table 3. Results for Lens Combination
Setup A Setup B
Nature of
Final Image
Real,
inverted,
diminished
Real
inverted,
same size
Actual
Distance of
Object from
first lens
(cm)
40 cm 42 cm
Computed
Distance of
first image
from first
lens
188.57 cm 160 cm
Computed
distance of
first image
from second
lens
-153.77 cm -125 cm
4

Computed
distance of
final image
from second
lens
26.48 cm 20 cm
Measured
distance of
final image
from second
lens
31 cm 24.5 cm
% Error 17.07% 6.574%
Table 3 shows the result for lens
combination. The focal length of the first
lens in Setup A is 33 cm, and the focal
length of the second length is 32 cm. The
percent error of Setup A is 17.07 %, and
Setup B, 6.574%.

Activity 4.
Table 4. Results for Chromatic
Aberration
Blue Bulb Red Bulb
Object
Distance
63 cm 55 cm
Image
Distance
70 cm 81 cm
Focal
Length
39.16 cm 32.35 cm
A lens will not focus different colors in
exactly the same place because the focal
length depends on refraction and the index
of refraction for blue light (short
wavelengths) is larger than that of red light
(long wavelengths).
[1]
In Table 4, the results
showed that the blue bulb has a focal length
of 39.16 cm, and the Red Bulb had a focal
length of 32.35 cm.

Table 5. Results for Spherical Aberration
Outer Zone
Uncovered
Middle
Zone
Uncovered
Object
Distance
57 cm 47 cm
Image
Distance
55 cm 59.3 cm
Focal
Length
28 cm 26.26 cm
For lenses made with spherical surfaces,
rays which are parallel to the optic axis but
at different distances from the optic axis fail
to converge to the same point
[2]
, table 5
shows the comparison between the optic
axis (Middle Zone) and a parallel path of
light with a different distance from the optic
axis (Outer Zone). The focal length of the
Outer zone is 28 cm, and the Middle Zone,
26.26 cm
.


V. Conclusion

VI. References

1. Chromatic Aberration. Hyperphysics
Textbook. [Online] Georgia Stae University.
[Cited: February 23, 2014.]
http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/aber2.html#c1.
2. R.Nave. Spherical Aberration. Hyperphysics.
[Online] Georgia State University. [Cited:
February 23, 2014.] http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/aber.html.
3. Convex and Concave Lenses. passmyexams.
[Online] [Cited: February 22, 2014.]
http://www.passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/physics/
concave-lenses-convex-lenses.html#2.
4. Nave, R. Virtual Image. Hyperphysics
Textbook. [Online] Georgia State University.
[Cited: February 23, 2014.]
http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/image2.html.
5. Convex and Concave Lenses. passmyexams.
[Online] [Cited: February 23, 2014.]
http://www.passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/physics/
concave-lenses-convex-lenses.html#2.
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