Name:

Group members:

Date:
Instructor:

Prelab: Image formation

Solve for the focal length of the convex lens shown in the setup below.

Prelab: Image formation

EXPERIMENT
Image formation

Objectives
This experiment expects the students:
Observe the formation of images by a thin lens or a combination of thin lenses
Determine the focal lengths of a convex and a concave lens using image formation
concepts and the thin lens equation

Introduction
Refraction happens when the direction of light propagation is altered as it encounters the
boundary between two different media. It is one of the most important properties that
may be derived from the wave nature of light.One of the most common optical components
which forms an image via refraction is the lens. This is the basis of microscopes, cameras,
telescopes, and other optical devices that use lenses. In this activity, the formation of
images by a single lens and by a combination of lenses are explored.
The position and size of an image formed by a lens may be determined graphically or
algebraically. For a lens with negligible thickness, i.e. thin lens, the image position, si , is
related to the object distance s0 (both measured from the center of the lens) by the thin
lens equation
1
1
1
+ =
s0 si
f

(1)

where f is the focal length taken as the distance between the center of the lens and
its focus F. Equation (1) was derived on the assumption that the thickness of the lens
is negligible compared to the object and image distances (thin lens), and that the light
rays are very close to the optical axis (paraxial approximation).
The lateral magnification M of the image is given by the equation
M=

hi
si
=
h0
s0

(2)

where hi is the height of the image and ho is the height of the object. If | M | < 1, the
image formed is larger (magnified) than the object. If | M | < 1, the image formed is
smaller (reduced). A negative M implies that the image formed is inverted with respect
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to the object whereas a positive M means that the image has the same orientation as the
object (upright).
Two thin lenses placed in contact may be treated as a single lens. If the individual
focal lengths, f1 and f2, are known, the equivalent focal length feq of this lens combination
is given by
1
1
1
+
=
(3)
f1 f2
fef f
Equations (1) to (3) obey the sign conventions given in Table 1. The signs are based
on whether the object and image are located in front or at the back of the lens relative
to the light source. Most imaging systems employ combinations of lenses that are not in
contact. The thin lens equation and may still be used but should be applied one lens
at a time. For a two-lens combination, the image formed by the first lens becomes the
object of the second lens. The final image is thus the image formed by the second lens
out of the first image.
Positive
Negative
virtual object at the back
real object in front of the
object distance, so
of the lens (transmission
lens (incident side)
side)
real image at the back of
virtual image in front of
image distance, si
the lens (transmission side)
the lens (incident side)
focal length, f
converging/convex lens
diverging/concave lens

Materials
The following materials are required for the experiment:
Cross-arrow target
Viewing screen
Component mounts
Light source
Convex lens 1 (f = 75 mm)
Convex lens 2 (f = 150 mm)
Concave lens (f = 150 mm)
Optical bench

Procedure
Part 1: Focal lengths of convex lens 1 and convex lens 2
1. Mount the light source, the cross-arrow target (object), convex lens 1 and the
viewing screen on the optical bench as shown in Figure 1.
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Physics 72.1

Figure 1: Optical set-up for part 1

2. Fix the positions of the object and the lens and measure the object distance, s0.
Adjust the location of the viewing screen to find the distance of the sharpest image
from the lens, si
3. Record your measurements in Table W1 as Trial 1. Hint: s0 must be greater than
the theoretical focal length of the lens.
4. While maintaining the object and screen positions, change the position of the lens
until another sharp image is formed. Record your measurements and observations
in Table W1 as trial 2.
5. Do steps 1 to 3 for a new s0. Record your measurements as trials 3 and 4.
6. Using equation (1), calculate the focal length of convex lens 1 for each set of recorded
s0 and si values. Get the best estimate for the focal length of convex lens 1.
7. Do steps 1-5 for convex lens 2.

Part 2: Combination of two convex lenses (NOT in contact)

Figure 2: Optical set-up for two convex lenses (not in contact)

1. Mount the light source, the cross-arrow target, convex lens 1, and convex lens 2
and the viewing screen on the optical bench as shown in Figure 2. Note that the
object-to-convex lens 1 distance, so,1 is less than the theoretical focal length of
convex lens 1 and that the two lenses are not in contact.
2. Record so,1 and the distance between the lenses, d in Table W2.
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3. Locate the sharpest magnified image of the two lenses by adjusting the position of
the viewing screen. Determine the magnification of this image.
4. Take note of all necessary measurements and observations related to the final image
formed and record them in Table W2.

Part 3: Combination of a convex lens and a concave lens (IN contact)

Figure 3: Optical setup for a concave lens and a convex lens in contact
1. Mount the light source, the cross-arrow target and the viewing screen on the optical
bench. Attach convex lens 1 and the concave lens on the same component mount
to make them approximately in contact. Mount them on the optical bench. Either
side of the combination can be oriented facing object (See Figure 3).
2. By adjusting the positions of the components, locate where the (sharpest) real
image is formed. Record all measurements in Table W3.
3. Determine the equivalent focal length of this combination of lenses using Equation
(1).
4. Using the calculated equivalent focal length and the average focal length of convex
lens 1 obtained in Part A, determine the focal length of the concave lens using
Equation (3). Record all results in Table W3.

Part 4: Combination of a convex lens and a concave lens (NOT in

contact)
1. Mount the light source, the cross-arrow target, convex lens 1 and the viewing screen
on the optical bench as shown in Figure 4.
2. By adjusting the positions of the components, locate where the (sharpest) reduced
image is formed on the screen. Record all pertinent measurements in Table W4.
3. Place the concave lens between the convex lens 1 and the viewing screen. By doing
this, the first image will become the virtual object of the concave lens. Note that
you do not need to form the sharpest image on the screen at this point. Record
this distance in Table W4.
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Figure 4: Optical setup for a system of convex and concave lens (not in contact)
4. Now move the viewing screen to locate the sharpest final image. Record all pertinent
measurements in Table W4.
5. From the measured first image and final image distances with respect to the concave
lens, determine the focal length of the concave lens using Equation (1).

Image formation

Physics 72.1
Name:
Group members:

1st A.Y. 2015-2016

Date:
Instructor:

Data Sheet

Table W1: Focal lengths, and image description (real/virtual, magnified/reduced, upright/inverted) of the convex lenses
Convex lens 1
Convex lens 2
Trial
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
so
si
f
Image
description
Best
Estimate
Theoretical focal
length
Percent
deviation
Sample calculations

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Table W2: Formation of a magnified image using a combination of two lenses

Distance of object from convex lens 1
Calculated distance of first image from convex lens 1
Description of first image
Distance of convex lens 1 from convex lens 2
Distance of first image from convex lens 2
Distance of final image from convex lens 2
Measured magnification of final image
Description of final image
Calculations

Table W3: Concave-convex lens 1 combination (in contact)

Distance of object from the lenses
Distance of image from the lenses
Equivalent focal length of the lenses
Calculated magnification of the image
Measured magnification of final image
Experimental focal length of the concave lens
Calculations

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Table W4: Concave-Convex lens 1 combination (NOT in contact)

Distance of object from convex lens 1
Distance of first image from convex lens 1
Measured magnification of first image
Distance of convex lens 1 from concave lens
Distance of first image from the concave lens
Distance of final image from the concave lens
Description of the final image
Experimental focal length of the concave lens
Calculations

Questions
1. Compare the values of so from trial 1 and si from trial 2 or so from trial 3 and si
from trial 4 in Table W1. Explain the similarity/difference of these values.

2. Compare the experimental values of the focal length of the concave lens obtained
from Part 3 and 3. Calculate the relative deviation in focal length with respect to
the value obtained from Part 3. Explain why you got this value.

Image formation