In-Class Activities
Submission Format
I. Simulation
Lesson: Concave Mirrors and Convex Mirrors
Chapter: 14.5 and 14.6
Learning Targets:
1. Describe the characteristics of images formed by a concave mirror using ray diagram and
mirror equation.
2. Describe the characteristics of images formed by a convex mirror using ray diagram and
mirror equation.
Title of Experiment: Cassegrain Telescope
I. Problem
How does a telescope collect and magnify light?
II. Variables
Independent
Primary Diameter
Primary Focal Ratio
Eyepiece Focal Length
Dependent
Primary Bounce Angle
Secondary Bounce Angle
Visibility of Jupiter through the Telescope
Position of Primary Mirror
Position of Secondary Mirror
III. Data
IV. Image 1.
V. Analysis
From the data gathered above, both the convex and concave lenses were utilized in order for
the telescope to be able to help magnify the view of Jupiter.
A Cassegrain telescope uses a concave primary mirror to magnify light from distant objects in
order to form an image visible to the human eye, along with a convex secondary mirror,
which reflects the light after it bounces off a concave primary mirror. As seen from the
diagram shown above (Data), the primary mirror is located at the rear portion of the
telescope, whereas the secondary mirror is situated at the center to top portion of the
telescope. The light would first enter the telescope and reflect off of the primary mirror
towards the secondary mirror to reflect. It would then be reflected back to create a narrower
light source that would enter through a hole in the primary mirror in order to focus light to
produce greatly enlarged images.
As the concave mirror or the primary mirror projects parallel beams of light, the incoming
light rays from an object that is infinitely far away would be exactly parallel and reflect off of
the concave mirror according to the law of reflection. It is important to note that the section
of mirror has to be small compared to its radius of curvature, otherwise the reflected rays
from the top and bottom edges of the mirror will not pass through the focal point, resulting in
a spherical aberration. This would be why the concave or primary mirror is stationary at the
bottom portion of the telescope.
On the other hand, for a convex mirror or a secondary mirror, given that an object is at
infinity, as the object moves from infinity toward the mirror, the image would move along the
principal axis toward the mirror. And given that an object is next to the mirror, the image will
be right next to the mirror on the opposite side as well. This would be why the placement of
the convex or secondary mirror is as so, as it would need to move accordingly to project an
image that has the desired and specific size needed.
From Image 1 shown above, the ideal settings in order for the telescope to project the largest
view of Jupiter would have to have the Primary Diameter and Primary Focal Ratio on the
highest settings, with the Eyepiece Focal Length and 1cm, or the lowest setting. The Primary
Diameter setting adjusts the area of the primary mirror of the telescope. The greater the area
inputted, the more light the telescope would be able to intercept from the sky. A larger
mirror would also allow for a greater number of celestial objects to be visible through the
telescope. The Primary Focal Ratio setting adjusts the focal ratio of the telescope, or the ratio
of the focal length of the system to the diameter of the telescope. Optical systems with high
focal ratios are known as "slow systems", with a smaller angle of reflection as compared to
optical systems with smaller focal ratios.
Lastly, the Eyepiece Focal Length setting adjusts the focal length of the telescope eyepiece.
Shorter eyepieces allow for a higher magnification, though it may limit the field view of the
telescope. The settings presented would account for the best settings/set-up of the telescope
in order to observe Jupiter well.
