Date:

Experiment Number:
Aim: To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs
1 1
between u and v or between and .
𝑢 𝑣

Apparatus Required: Optical Bench, Uprights, Needles, Convex

lens

Theory: Lens formula

1 1 1
= -
𝑓 𝑣 𝑢
Where,
f is focal length of lens
u is object distance
v is image distance

Diagram:

Observations:
Range of optical bench = 0 cm to 150 cm
Least count of optical bench = 0.1 cm
Observation Table:

Serial
Number Position of u = - |𝒃 − 𝒂| v = |𝒄 − 𝒂| 𝟏 𝟏
Lens Object Image 𝒖 𝒗
Upright Upright Upright cm cm 𝐜𝐦−𝟏 𝐜𝐦−𝟏
( a ) cm ( b ) cm ( c ) cm
1. 75 39 120 - |39 − 75| = |120 − 75| -0.027 0.020
−36 = 45
2. 75 41 126 - |41 − 75| = |126 − 75| -0.029 0.019
−34 = 51
3. 75 45 135 - |45 − 75| = |135 − 75| -0.033 0.016
−30 = 60
4. 75 135 45 - |135 − 75| = |45 − 75| -0.016 0.033
−60 = 30
5. 75 126 41 - |126 − 75| = |41 − 75| -0.019 0.029
−51 = 34
6. 75 120 39 - |120 − 75| = |39 − 75| -0.020 0.027
−45 = 36

Graph:
U-V Graph

Calculations
I. From u-v graph
𝑣
f=
2
40
f=
2
f = 20 cm
 1 1
- Graph
𝑢 𝑣

Calculations
𝟏 𝟏
II. From − 𝒗 graph
𝒖
1
f=
𝑦
1
f=
0.05
f = 20 cm

Result:
Focal length of given convex lens as determined by
I. u-v graph = 20 cm
𝟏 𝟏
II. − 𝒗 graph = 20 cm
𝒖

Sources of errors:
1. Error may be due to parallax.
2. Errors may occur due to carelessness of experimenter.
3. The uprights on the optical bench may not be vertical.

Precautions:
1. Parallax should be removed from tip to tip.
2. The screws of the holder and uprights should be tight .
3. The uprights must hold needles exactly vertical.