PHYSICS 3

Convex Lenses
Lesson objectives

Understand what effect convex
lenses have on light rays.
Be able to draw ray diagrams
for convex lenses.
Tuesday, 03 June 2014
A lens can
be thought of
as a series of
prisms.
The lens
refracts all the
rays to a point
called the
principal focus
[F].
The distance
between the
centre of the
lens and F is
called the focal
length [].
Imagine
parallel rays
of light from
a distant
object hitting
the lens.
Draw normal
lines [at 90 to
the surface] for
each ray.
Use the first
refraction rule
to work out the
ray direction.
Draw normal
lines where the
rays enter the
air [at 90 to the
surface].
Work out the
direction of the
refracted rays
using the second
refraction rule.
When light enters a
less dense medium
[e.g. air], it bends away
from the normal.
Using Refraction : lenses
When light enters a more
dense medium [e.g.
glass], it bends towards
the normal.
F

Biconvex Lenses
Biconvex lenses are converging lenses.
When incoming parallel light rays are incident upon a
biconvex lens...

The rays are
focussed to the
principle focus
f focal length, distance from F to lens
F principle focus
F
Drawing Ray Diagrams (1)
Draw one ray from the top of the object
parallel to the centre axis. This is refracted
through the principal focus.
Draw a second ray through the centre of the
lens. This passes straight on it is not
refracted at all!
Where the rays meet the image is formed.

Drawing Ray Diagrams (2)
Two light rays leave the object O and pass through
the lens. Where they meet an image I is produced.
This is a REAL, DIMINISHED and INVERTED image.
Lens
Your Ray Diagram 1
A convex lens has a focal length of 4 cm
and an object 3 cm high is placed 8 cm
in front of the lens (i.e. at 2F).
Find the position, size and nature of the
image formed.
Convex Lens Ray Diagrams Object at 2F
Image is real, inverted and the same size as the object.
So its 8 cm from the lens and 3 cm high.
Your Ray Diagram 2
A convex lens has a focal length of 4 cm
and an object 2 cm high is placed 6 cm
in front of it.
Find the position, size and nature of the
image formed.
Convex Lens Ray Diagrams Object
Between 2F and F
The image is 12 cm from the lens, 4 cm high and is
real, inverted and magnified.
Your Ray Diagram 3
A convex lens has a focal length of 6 cm
and an object 1 cm high is placed 4 cm
in front of it.
Find the position, size and nature of the
image.
Convex Lens Ray Diagrams Object
Between F and C
The image is 12 cm in front of the lens, 3 cm high
and is virtual, upright and magnified.
1. Which statement is true?
A. Virtual images can be projected onto screens
B. Erect images are upside-down
C. Concave mirrors are diverging
D. Biconcave lenses are diverging
Optics Test

2. Which statement is true?
A. Diminished images are smaller than the object
B. Convex mirrors are converging
C. Biconvex lenses are diverging
D. Real images can not be projected onto
screens
Optics Test

Optics Test
3. What optical device is shown?
A. Biconvex lens
B. Biconcave lens
C. Convex mirror
D. Concave mirror

4. What do you think happens when
Parallel light rays strike a convex lens?
They pass through the
focal point of the lens.
Diverging light rays?
Emerge as a parallel beam if they
pass though the focal point (F).
F
F

Summary
Object
position
Image
Position
Real or
virtual
Magnified
or
diminished
Inverted or
erect
>2F
at 2F
between 2F
and F
at F
between F
and lens
between F
and 2F
at 2F
> 2F
at infinity
same side
as object
virtual
real
real
real
magnified
magnified
same size
diminished
upright
inverted
inverted
inverted
Use a ruler to
measure the distance
between the lens and
the screen - this is
the focal length [].
Using Refraction : lenses - finding
Chose a
distant object
[to get parallel
rays of light].
Hold a plain
white screen
in one hand.
Hold the lens in the other
hand and move it closer to
the screen until a clear
image appears.
Refraction : lenses
1. Find the focal length [] of your lens.
2. Fix the lens to the centre of a metre rule and mark the distances
F and 2F either side of the lens.
2F F F 2F
3. Place the candle >2F away from the lens and move the screen
until an image appears and record observations.
4. Repeat for the candle at 2F, between 2F and F, at F and between
F and the lens.
Results
Object
position
Image
Position
Real or
virtual
Magnified
or
diminished
Inverted or
erect
>2F
at 2F
between 2F
and F
at F
between F
and lens
Refraction : lenses
Object >2F away
O
2F F F 2F
I
The image [ l ] is formed between F and 2F away from the
lens, is inverted and diminished.
Object at 2F
O
2F F F 2F
I
The image [ l ] is formed at 2F away from the lens, is
inverted and the same size.
Refraction : lenses
Object between 2Fand F away
O
2F F F 2F
I
The image [ l ] is formed further than 2F away from
the lens, is inverted and magnified.
Refraction : lenses
Object at F away
O
2F F F 2F
The image [ l ] is formed at infinity - the rays never meet
[we use this set-up for searchlights].
Refraction : lenses
Object between F and lens
O
I
The VIRTUAL image [ l ]
is formed on the same
side of the lens as the
object, is the right way up
and magnified.
2F F F 2F
Refraction : lenses
2F F F 2F
Magnification = Distance from lens to image
Distance from object to lens
Refraction : lenses
Using refraction : lenses summary
There are two main types of lens:
Convex Concave


Convex lenses work by bending [refracting] rays
of light to a principal focus.
The distance from the centre of the lens to the
principal focus [F] is called the focal length [].
The image formed by a convex lens is inverted
[back-to-front and upside-down].
The thicker the lens, the shorter the focal
length[].
Convex Lens Ray Diagrams
Object Beyond 2F
Image is real, inverted and diminished
Your Ray Diagrams
Draw ray diagrams with your object
positioned:
a) At 2F describe the image,
b) Between F and 2F describe the image,
c) Between the lens and F describe the
image.
Optics Test
3. What optical device is shown?
A. Biconvex lens
B. Biconcave lens
C. Plane mirror
D. Concave mirror