Lenses

By the end of the lesson you will have learnt:

• to construct ray diagrams to show the formation

of images by diverging lenses and converging lenses
• to explain the use of a converging lens as a
magnifying glass and in a camera
• The nature of the image produced by a diverging
lens.
• The nature of the image produced by a converging
lens for an object placed at different distances
from the lens.

1
Magnification
Objects appear larger when the angle subtended is
larger.
observer

observer

The magnification is how much larger the image is

than the object.

Magnification = Image size

Object size
Link to Lenses3424.bat

2
Lesson will end 5 minutes into
lunch break

3
http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/index.php?

Link to Spherical mirrors5186.bat

4
Your tasks:

1. With the light box giving out three rays, draw a

ray diagram for each lens.
2. Find the focal length for each lens. What do you
notice about the focal point?

3. Cut a shape in the piece of paper and place it

into a slot in the light box.
4. Set up each example as the sheet shows you.
5. Using a screen, record the position of the image
in each case and draw the rays.
6. Note down how the image is inverted, magnified,
and whether it is real or virtual.

Remember you will not be able to get virtual images

onto the screen. You must use your eyes to find
these!

5
Constructing ray diagrams
1. Draw a ray parallel to the optic axis. It refracts through
the focal point.
2. Draw a ray through the focal point. It refracts parallel
to the optic axis.
3. Draw a path to the mid-point of the mirror. It refracts
at the same angle.
diminished, inverted,
real image

Optic axis

6
Construct ray paths to find each image. Say whether
each image is inverted, magnified and virtual/real.

7
 Construct ray paths to find each image. Say whether
each image is inverted, magnified and virtual/real.

same size, inverted, real

magnified, non-inverted, virtual

diminished, non-inverted, virtual

diminished, non-inverted, virtual

8
Attachments

Link to Lenses3424.bat

Link to Spherical mirrors5186.bat