You da man, Mr W!

How to draw ray diagrams

The definitive guide

By Mr Woollaston

Ray 1: Parallel to principle axis reflected through the focus. Ray 2: Through the focus reflected parallel to principle axis. Ray 3: Strikes optical centre incident and reflected angles are equal. Where these 3 meet the image is found.

Concave mirror

Ray 1: Parallel to principle axis reflected as if it had gone through the focus (extend backwards). Ray 2: Towards the focus reflected parallel to principle axis (extend backwards). Ray 3: Strikes optical centre incident and reflected angles are equal (extend backwards). Where these 3 meet the image is found.

Convex mirror

Ray 1: Parallel to principle axis refracted through the focus. Ray 2: Through the focus refracted parallel to principle axis. Ray 3: Strikes optical centre no change in direction Where these 3 meet the image is found.

F F

Convex lens

Ray 1: Parallel to principle axis refracted as if it had gone through the focus (extend backwards). Ray 2: Towards the focus refracted parallel to principle axis (extend backwards). Ray 3: Strikes optical centre no change in direction. Where these 3 meet the image is found.

Concave lens

Images can always be described using 3 of the following options:

Enlarged or diminished Upright or inverted Real or virtual
Did it get bigger or smaller?
Right side up or upside down?

With mirrors: if the image is on the opposite side to the object it is virtual. With lenses: if the image is on the same side as the object it is virtual.

Describing images