EXPERIMENT 3

M: To find the focal length of a comvex lens by plotting graphs between u and v or between

nd
APPARATUS

An optical bench with three uprights (central upright fixed, two outer uprights with lateral

movement), a convex lens with lens holder, two optical needles, (one thin, one thick) a knitting needle
and a half metre scale.

THEORY

The relation between u, v and f for a convex lens is,

U-U

.1 uv
f U-U

where, f= focal length of convex lens

u =distance of object needle from optical centre of the lens

U =distance of image needle from optical centre of the lens.
sign-convention, u has negative value and v has positive value. Hence, fcomes positive.
Note. According to

RAY DIAGRAM
B

2F F
A 2F
Image
Object Needle
Needle D
B
u

Fig. Focal length of convex lens.

 Lenses
Length of pherical 151
Focal

OBSERVATIONS

of the
given convex lens
Rough focal length CIm

of the knitting needle

Actual length x . Cm
Observed distance between the object needle and the lens

when knitting needle placed between them

is y =...... Cm

Observed distance between the image needle and the

lens when knitting needle is placed between them Z cm
Index correction for the object distance u, X-y= Cm
Index correction for the image distance u, X-Z= . Cm

1
Table for u, v;and

Position of Observed distance Corrected distance

1
Serial OA =u OC=U
No.of Object Lens Image
needle needle
Obs.
A C
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
(3a) (3b) (4a) (4b) (5) (6)
(1) (2a) (2b) (2c)
1.

5.

6.

CALCULATIONS
methods.
Calculations of focal length by graphical
X-axis and v Y-axis.
samescaleto represent u
along along

)u-vGraph. Select a suitable but the u is negative and is positive. Plot the v variouspoints
conventions, in this case,
According to sign quadrant. The graph comes
observation table
second

different sets of values ofu and v from

for shown in graph between u and u.
out to be a hyperbola as
rectangular
with either axis (i.e., bisecting YOX) and meeting the

Draw a line OA making an angle of 45 X- and Y-axes, respectively.

curve at point A. Draw AB and
AC perpendicular on
So, the coordinates
A of point must be
(2f 2f).
The values of u andu will be samefor point A.
lens, when u =
2f, v =
2f.
because for a convex

OC- OB 2f
-

AB- AC =
2f or
Hence,
f - OB and f-

Mean value of f . . Cm
 Comprehensiue Practical Physics-X
152 -XII

GRAPH BETWEENu AND v

Scale
X-axis: 1 cm =... cm of u AY
Y-axis: 1 cm = . . . cm of v

v (cm)
C

45°
X B O
-u (cm)

Fig. Graph between u and It is

v. a
rectangular hyperbola.

(ii)andGraph. Select asuitable but the same scale to represent 1

Y-axis. By sign conventions along X-axis and along
is negative and is positive. Plot the various points for
different
sets of values ofandfrom
u the observation table. The
graph comes out to be a straight line
as shown in
graph between and
The straight line cuts the two axes OX and OY
and at an
making equal intercepts on the axes. angle of 45° at points P and
Measure the distance Q, respectiveiy
Then focal length, OP and
f- OP 00 OQ.

..
 Lens 153
HLength ofSpherical

GRAPH BETWEEN AND

Scale

X-axis: 1 cm= cm- of

Y-axis:1 cm=.cm-1 of

(cm

eom

Fig. Graph betweenand It is a straight line.

Explanation
Same as for concave mirror.
Select a suitable but the same scale to represent u along X-axis
(iit) Another u-v Graph.
and u along Y-axis. Mark the points at distances u,, 4, 4, e t c . along the OX-axis and

the corresponding points at distances v Vgr etc. along OY-axisfor different sets of
observations from the table
Draw straightlines joining u, With D,; u, with v,; u , with vg etc. These lines will intersect at

point K as shown in the following graph.

Draw KL and KM perpendiculars on X- and Y-axes, respectively.
 154 Comjprehensive Practical Phy
nysics-XI
GRAPH BETWEEN u AND v Y
Scale
X'-axis :1 cm= . cm of u
Y -axis: 1 cm =.... cm of v

Va
K(-f, VA
M
45°
45
X -us ug-U2 -u L
- u (cm)

Fig. Graph between u andu.

Then, f OL = OM = ... cm.

Explanation
Same as for concave mirror.
Note. It will be better to choose
any four suitable sets of (u, v) from the observation table. All the six sets of
observations may complicate the graph.

RESULT
The focal length of the given convex lens as determined from:
uu
1. focal length, f= -
U-U

2. (u- v) graph ... cm

3
raph = Cm

and 4. (u-v) graph Cm.

PRECAUTIONS
Tips of the object and image needles should lie at the same
height as the centre of the lens
Parallax should be removed from tip to tip by
30 cm
away from the needle.
at keeping
distance east
eye a at

3. The object needle should be placed at such a distance that only real, inverted image of it is
formed.
4. Index correction for u and v should be
applied.
Focal Length of Spherical Lenses
SOURCES OF ERROR
The uprights may not be the vertical.
2. Parallax removal may not be perfect.