Optional Unit VI: Optics

B. Lenses
Key Concepts
Lenses have curved surfaces, or a very large number of flat surfaces located at slightly
different angles. (i.e., Fresnel lens)
Converging lenses (positive lenses) are thicker at the centre than at the edges.
Diverging lenses (negative lenses) are thicker at the edges than at the centre.
(Only thin, single lenses are dealt with in Physics 20. Note as well that the terms concave
and convex, as applied to lenses, can be misleading. A meniscus lens has both a concave
and a convex surace, but the thic!ness at the centre compared with the edges determines
i it behaves as a converging or a diverging lens."
The optical centre of the lens is located at its geometric centre.
The principal axis is a construction line drawn perpendicular to the lens, through the
optical centre.
Rays parallel to the principal axis will converge when passing through a converging lens,
and diverge when passing through a diverging lens.
The principal focus (F) is a point on the principal axis where light comes to a focus (for
a converging lens) or appears to be diverging from (for a diverging lens). Two foci exist,
euidistant on either side of the lens, since light behaves the same way when travelling in
either direction (!rinciple of Reversibility). The two foci, F and F' are called the
primary principal focus and the secondary principal focus, respectively. F, sometimes
also referred to as the primary focal point, is shown on the right side of a converging lens,
and on the left side of a diverging lens, while F', the secondary focal point is shown on
the opposite side of each respective lens.)
Ray diagrams are used to show rays passing through a lens.
Ray diagrams can be useful in determining the characteristics of an image formed by a
lens.
"y convention, incident rays are shown travelling from left to right on ray diagrams. #
dotted line is usually drawn through the lens at the optical centre, perpendicular to the
principal axis.
Ray diagrams should always be drawn and labelled neatly, accurately, and to some
appropriate scale.
The focal lengt is the distance between the principal focus and the optical centre of the
lens.
The focal plane is an imaginary plane perpendicular to the principal axis at the focal
point. !arallel rays will converge through a converging lens somewhere on the focal
plane.
$ncident light rays are refracted twice by a lens% once at each boundary. !artial reflection
may also occur. ($n optical systems, partial reflection is undesirable. $t can be minimi&ed
by using optical lens coatings. 'oated lenses provide superior image uality.)
To simplify matters on ray diagrams, incident rays can be shown to refract at the
construction line passing through the optical centre of the lens. For a thin lens this leads
to a reasonably close approximation because the lateral displacement is uite small.
(ight rays that have travelled over a large distance are effectively parallel.
(enses can form either real or virtual images.
The rules for drawing ray diagrams for converging and diverging lenses can be used to
determine the characteristics of an image formed by a lens.
(ens euations can be used to determine the characteristics of an image. (Refer to page
))) for lens euations and sign conventions.)
# diverging lens always forms an erect, virtual image which is diminished in si&e. $t is
located closer to the lens than the ob*ect, between the principal focal point and the lens.
To correct for sperical a!erration in lenses, acromatic lenses can be used. (+pherical
aberration in lenses can be corrected by using aspheric lenses, or by using thin lens
combinations which cancel out aberrations. #chromatic lenses, designed to correct for
chromatic aberration at some wavelengths, can also help to reduce spherical aberration.)
(ens defects are called a!errations. They hinder the uality of the image formed in an
optical system.
(enses are used in many different kinds of practical applications. (+everal should be
studied.)
#n optical system may use a combination of mirrors, lenses, prisms, and other kinds of
optical devices.
#n image formed by one component in an optical system can serve as an ob*ect for a
different component.
The image characteristics formed by converging lenses depend on the location of the
ob*ect. This table summari&es the characteristics of images found in a converging mirror
based onthe location of the ob*ect.
Image Caracteristics
O!"ect location #agnification $ttitude %ype &osition
near infinity , -) inverted real at F
beyond .F , -) inverted real between F / .F
at .F -) inverted real at .F
between .F and F 0 -) inverted real beyond .F
between F and 1 0 2) erect virtual same side as ob*ect
at F undefined
(These characteristics should be developed experimentally, and verified with the use of
ray diagrams and euations. Rote memori&ation should be discouraged and avoided.)
'ules for Dra(ing 'ay Diagrams for Converging and Diverging Lenses
(!arenthetical remarks refer specifically to diverging lenses)
). #n incident ray that is parallel to the principal axis is refracted such that it passes
through (or appears to have originated from) the principal focus (F).
.. #n incident ray passing through (or heading toward) the secondary principal
focus (F') is refracted such that it travels parallel to the principal axis.
3. #n incident ray passing through the optical centre of the lens continues to travel
in a straight line.
Learning Outcomes
+tudents will increase their abilities to4
). 5efine the following terms4 converging (positive) lens, diverging (negative) lens,
optical centre, principal axis, principal focus, focal length, focal plane, achromatic
lens, virtual ob*ect.
.. 5istinguish between a converging (positive) lens and a diverging (negative) lens.
3. 5raw diagrams of converging and diverging lenses, showing the principal axis
and important points on the principal axis for each type of lens.
6. 5raw neat, properly labelled, accurate, scaled ray diagrams for single thin lenses.
7. #pply the rules for drawing ray diagrams for converging and diverging lenses
(parallel-ray method) to draw an ob*ect on the principal axis and locate the
position and other characteristics of its image.
8. 9se a ray diagram to interpret the characteristics of an image formed by a lens.
:. 5emonstrate an understanding of the importance and use of a procedure of
verification.
;. Recogni&e that, even though light rays are refracted at both surfaces by a lens, for
thin lenses the incident rays can be shown refracting at the construction line
passing through the optical centre of the lens.
<. =xplain why light rays travelling over a long distance are effectively parallel
when they reach a lens (or other type of optical system).
)>. #pply lens euations, in con*unction with ray diagrams and other methods, to
solve problems in optics dealing with lenses.
)). =xplain one method that can be used to correct for spherical aberration in lenses.
).. 5istinguish between a real ob*ect and a virtual ob*ect.
)3. $dentify various useful applications of lenses, and show their importance to
society.
Images formed !y a converging lens
Caracteristics of te Image
a) 5istant ob*ect
Real
$nverted
+maller than ob*ect
#t F
b) 1b*ect at .F
Real
$nverted
+ame si&e
#t .F
c) 1b*ect between .F ans F
Real
$nverted
(arger than ob*ect
"eyond .F
d) 1b*ect at F
?o image
Refracted rays
are parallel
e) 1b*ect between F and
lens
@irtual
=rect
(arger than ob*ect
"ehind the ob*ect on the same side of the lens
Image formed !y a diverging lens
e) 1b*ect at F
'haracteristics of the image regardless of ob*ect
postion
@irtual
=rect
+maller than ob*ect
"etween ob*ect and lens
%eacing )uggestions* $ctivities and Demonstrations
). !erform an activity to investigate image formation in converging and diverging
lenses.
.. !lace a light source, a converging lens, and a screen on a stand. 5etermine the
image position at various different distances between the ob*ect and the lens. Find
the focal length and the lens power. 5etermine the magnification for specific
ob*ect positions. Repeat with several different positive lenses. 5raw ray diagrams
illustrating each specific case. +tate the image characteristics for all of the
possible cases. For an added challenge, repeat using two different lenses placed
together.
3. !lace a converging and a diverging lens on an optical bench. (ook through the
lens combination from both directions at distant ob*ects. #d*ust the separation of
the lenses.
6. The arrangement described in A3 above was used to develop the first optical
telescopes. "ackground historical information on the development of the
telescope could be researched independently by students.
7. 'ompare Balilean and Ceplerian telescopes in terms of image characteristics.
9sing ray diagrams and data collected through experimentation, show how the
image is formed in each of the telescopes.
8. @arious ray box demonstrations and activities are useful to incorporate into this
section.
:. 9se computers as analytical tools to solve problems, perform simulations, and
explore new environments in micro worlds.
;. # useful model which simulates the refraction of sunlight through the atmosphere
involves preparing a solution in a beaker which contains about <>> m( of water, 7
g of sodium thiosulphate and 7 m( of concentrated hydrochloric acid. (#lways
add the acid to water. ?ever add water to the acid. The solution is fairly safe when
diluted, but the concentrated acid is very corrosive.)
# colloidal solution of sulphur forms. +hine a spotlight through the container.
+cattered blue light will be evident at right angles to the beam. 9se a white screen
to examine different regions of the beam. The colours will appear white, yellow,
and red. Regions that are blackened completely may also be evident.
This demonstration is useful for explaining sunsets and the Tyndall =ffect. (+ave
the solution. !our it into a round-bottomed Florence flask to simulate refraction in
lenses.)