Lenses and the Formation of Images 13.

1
We see the world through lenses. This is certainly true for those of us who
wear glasses or contact lenses. Even if you do not require any vision aids, you
still see the world through the lenses in your eyes. In this chapter, you will
explore how lenses form images and how lenses are used in our society.

Basic Lens Shapes

Lenses consist of two basic shapes. The first is a converging lens, so named converging lens a lens that is thickest
because parallel light rays converge through a single point after refraction in the middle and that causes incident
parallel light rays to converge through
through the lens (Figure 1). The converging lens is thickest in the middle a single point after refraction
and thinnest at the edge.

(a) (b)

Figure 1 A converging lens brings refracted rays together through a single point.

The second kind of lens is a diverging lens. In a diverging lens, parallel diverging lens a lens that is thinnest
light rays diverge after refraction from the lens (Figure 2). A diverging lens in the middle and that causes incident
parallel light rays to spread apart after
is thinnest in the middle and thickest at the edge. refraction
C13-F04-UDOS10SB.ai

10SB
up
e (a) (b)

Figure 2 Light rays spread apart after refraction in a diverging lens.

C13-F05-UDOS10SB.ai
NEL 13.1 Lenses and the Formation of Images 551
 Simplifying the Path of Light Rays
Through a Lens
In a lens, light is refracted at the first air to glass surface. Light then travels
through the glass of the lens and is refracted again at the glass to air surface
on the other side. This means that there are always two refractions in a
lens. We are, however, concerned only with the direction of the incident ray
entering the lens and the ray leaving the lens. Ray diagrams can be greatly
simplified by drawing a dashed vertical line through the centre of the lens
and showing refraction occurring at this line. The central line is a reference
point and shows light being refracted only once (Figure 3). It is used as a
shortcut for both converging and diverging lenses.
actual path shortcut

(a) (b)
Figure 3 By drawing one refracted ray at the central dashed line of a lens, you can greatly simplify
ray diagrams.

The Terminology of Converging Lenses

optical centre point at the exact centre
of the lens
principal focus the point on the principal
axis of a lens where light rays parallel to
the principal axis converge after refraction
The centre of the lens is called the optical centre (O). The line through the
optical centre that is perpendicular to the central dashed line of the lens is
the principal axis (similar inC13-F06-UDOS10SB.ai
purpose to the principal axis in curved mirrors).
Light rays parallel to the principal axis converge through a single point on the
principal axis called the principal focus (F). Light can strike the lens from
either side, and both sides of the lens can focus parallel light rays. To tell them
apart, the focus that is on the same side of the lens relative to the incident rays
is usually labelled as the secondary principal focus (F ʹ) (Figure 4).

Ontario Science 10 SB
0-17-635528-6
FN optical centre
C13-F06-UDOS10SB
CO CrowleArt Group
Deborah Crowle
O
Pass 1st pass principal axis
F F
Approved secondary principal focus principal
Not Approved focus

Figure 4 Terminology for a converging lens

552 Chapter 13 • Lenses and Optical Devices NEL

 The Terminology of Diverging Lenses
Light rays parallel to the principal axis of a diverging lens do not converge.
Instead, the refracted rays spread apart. If you project these diverging rays
backwards, it looks as if they come from a virtual focus. This point is now
the principal focus (F). The secondary principal focus (F ʹ) is now on the
other side of the lens, where the rays actually diverge (Figure 5). Note that
F and F ʹ are equally far apart from the optical centre of both a converging
lens and a diverging lens.
You will examine how these terms relate to images in these two kinds of
lenses when you do Activity 13.2.

optical centre

O
principal axis
F F
principal focus secondary
principal focus

Figure 5 Terminology for a diverging lens

IN SUMMARY
• A converging lens brings parallel light rays • The principal focus of a converging lens is on
together through a focus after refraction. the opposite side of the lens as the incident rays.
C13-F08-UDOS10SB.ai
• A diverging lens spreads parallel light rays apart • The principal focus of a diverging lens is on the
after refraction so that it looks as if they have same side of the lens as the incident rays.
come from a virtual focus.

CHECK YOUR LEARNING

1. Why is a knowledge of lenses important even if you do not 4. Can a converging lens have more than one focus?
require glasses? A Explain. K/U
Science 10 SB 2. What is the difference between a converging lens and a 5. You are given two lenses, a converging lens and a
528-6 diverging lens? Mention the paths of light rays in your diverging lens. Can you tell them apart just by feeling their
explanation. K/U
C13-F08-UDOS10SB shape? Explain. K/U
CrowleArt3.Group
(a) How many refractions actually occur as a light ray 6. (a) On what side of a converging lens is the principal
Deborah Crowle travels through a lens? Identify the locations of these focus located? Explain.
1st pass refractions on a diagram. (b) Where is the principal focus of a diverging lens
d (b) Why is it possible to simplify the number of actual located?
refractions in a lens down to one refraction at a (c) Why is a diverging lens different from a converging
oved
central line through the optical centre? K/U lens? K/U

NEL 13.1 Lenses and the Formation of Images 553