Physics

9.8 Optical Instruments

9.8.1 SIMPLE MICROSCOPE
It consists of a converging lens
with an object between, its focus
and optical centre and is held close h
to the eye. The image formed h
I
by this is erect, virtual, enlarged, O  F
and on the same side of the lens F C
between the object and infinity. It u
v
is also known as magnifying glass
or magnifier.   Visual angle with the instrument

 = maximum visual angle

for the unaided eye Here, Magnifying power = visual angle
with instrument/maximum visual angle
O
for unaided eye
0 θ h0 D D
MP = = × =
θ0 u h0 u
D

(A) Image is at infinity (far point) (B) Image Is at D (Near point)

If v =∞, u =f If v = −D,
D D D D
D D = 1+ ⇒ M.P. ==1+
M.P=. = u f u f
u f

9.8.2 COMPOUND MICROSCOPE

It consists of two converging lenses of
f0 fe
eye lens
short focal lengths and apertures arranged
object lens
v0 ue co-axially. The object lens is the objective
B object F0 Fe or field lens and is known as the eye-piece
h A’ C
A F0 C A’’ h1 lens is known as ocular. The objective has
a smaller aperture and focal length than the
final image

u0 h2 B’
eye-piece. The separation between objective
ve=D
B’’ and eye-piece can be varied.

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Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

Total magnifying power = Linear magnification of objective lens × angular magnification of

v0  D 
eye lens = m0 me =  
u0  ue 

length of tube, L = v0 + ue

(A) Final image is at infinity (B) Final image is at D

(far point) (near point)

ue = fe ve = D

v0  D  v0  D
⇒ M.P. =   ⇒ M.P. = 1 + 
u0  fe  u0  fe 

Where, =
L v 0 + fe =
L v 0 + ue

9.8.3 ASTRONOMICAL TELESCOPE

Objective (O)

L Eyepiece (E)
Par
alle
l ray f0 fe
from s
the
of d top
obje istant Fe
ct  F0 Fe
C  C´ 
F0

at 
Fig. 9.8.1 Image formation in astronomical telescope

f0
Magnification Power, MP = , Length of the tube, L= f0 + | fe |
fe

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(i) 
When the image is formed (ii) 
When the image is formed at
a t i n f i n i t y, v e = −∞ , t h e n least distance of distinct vision
magnification power becomes: v e = −D , then
f f0
MP = 0  fe 
fe =
MP
fe 1 + D 
 
Length of tube L = f0 + fe Length of tube L = f0 + |ue|

If the focal length of a magnifier is 5 cm calculate

(a) the power of the lens (b) the magnifying power
of the lens for the relaxed and strained eyes.
SOLUTION

focal length of a magnifier = 5 cm (b) For relaxed eye:

1 M.P.= D/f = 25/5 = 5
(a)  P =
f (m) For strained eye:
1 1 M.P. = 1+D/f = 1 + 25/5 = 1 + 5 = 6
∴P
= −2
= = 20 D
5 × 10 m 0.05

A compound microscope has a magnifying power of ‘30’. The

focal length of its eye-piece is ‘5’ cm. If the final image is to
be at the least distance of distinct vision (25 cm), calculate
the magnification produced by the objective.

In case of a compound microscope,

SOLUTION

 D
MP= m0 × me … (i) MP m0 1 + 
=
 fe 
And in case of final image at a minimum
Here, MP = -30; D = 25 cm and fe = 5 cm
distance of distinct vision,
 25  −30
 D −30 =m 1 +  ⇒m= = −5
me= 1 +   5  6
…(ii)
 fe  The negative sign indicates that the
image formed by the objective lens is
So, from equations (i) and (ii),
real and inverted.

Magnifying power of Astronomical telescope is 5. If the focal

length of the eye piece is 4 cm. Find the focal length of
SOLUTION

the objective lens and the length of the tube when image
is formed at infinity.
MP = 5, fe =4 cm fo = 20 cm
L = f0 + fe = 20 + 4 = 24 cm
f f
MP = − 0 ⇒ −5 = − 0
fe 4

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Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

TRAIN YOUR BRAIN

Question 1 :
A man with normal near point (25 cm) reads a book with a small print using a magnifying
glass which is a thin convex lens of focal length 5 of cm. What is the closest and farthest
distance at which he can read the book when viewing it through the magnifying glass?
Solution:
Since near point for normal eye = 25 cm and far point for normal eye = infinity
1 1 1
= −
f v u
f
∴u =
f 
 v − 1
 
5 25
vmin = -25 cm, umin = = − =−4.17 cm
 5  6
−  −1
 25 
5
vmax = infinity , umax = = −5 cm
5
 
−  −1
∞
Question 2 :
Two similar thin equi-convex lenses, each of focal length f each, are kept coaxially in contact
with each other such that the focal length of the combination is F1. When the space between
the two lenses is filled with glycerin (which has the same refractive index (µ = 1.5) as that
of glass), then the equivalent focal length is F2. The ratio F1:F2 will be (NEET 2019)
(a) 3:4 (b) 2:1 (c) 1:2 (d) 2:3
Solution:
Focal length of equi-convex lens = f
Refractive index of both glass and glycerin, µ =1.5
From the lens maker’s formula, we have
1  1 1 
= (µ − 1)  − 
f  R1 R2 
1 1 1  1
=(1.5 − 1)  − = (For equi-convex lens R1 = R and R2 = −R )
f  R −R  R
The two equi-convex lenses are kept coaxially in contact with each other, so the focal
length of the combination is given by:
1 1 1 2
= + =
F1 f f f
f R
F=
1 =
2 2

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When glycerin is filled between the two lenses, then there will be three lenses, one
concave and two convex, as shown in the figure.
The focal length of the concave lens is given by:
1  1 1 1
(1.5 − 1) 
= − = − −R and R2 =
(For concave lens R1 = R)
f'  −R R  R
So, the equivalent focal length of combination is given by:
1 1 1 1
= + +
F2 f f f '
1 1 1 1 1
= + − =
f f’ f
F2 R R R R
F2 = 2F1
F1 1
=
F2 2

Hence, option (c) is correct.

Question 3 :
If the refractive index of a material of equilateral prism is 3 , and the angle of prism is
60°. Then the angle of minimum deviation of the prism is (AIPMT 1999)
(a) 60° (b) 45° (c) 30° (d) 75°
Solution:
Given, Refractive index, µ = 3
Angle of prism, A = 60°
The refractive index of the prism is given by:
 A + δm 
sin 
2 
µ= 
 A
sin  
2
60
60°°++δδ 
sin
sin60° + δmmmm
sin  22 
33 ==  2
3= 60°° 
60
sin60° 
sin
sin  22 
 2 
33 60
60°°++δδmmm
3 ==sin
22
sin60° + δ 
= sin  22 m 
2  2 
60
60°°++δδmmm  −−11 33 
60° + δm = =60
60°° sin
sin−−11 3 60
=
60°°
=
22 = 60°  sin 22 =60°
2  2 
∴δδmm=
∴ m= 60 60°°
∴ δm= 60°
Hence, option (a) is correct.

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Question 4 :
Find the speed of light in medium ‘a’ if the speed of light in medium ‘b’ is c/3 where
c = speed of light in vacuum and light refracts from medium ‘a’ to medium ‘b’, making
45o and 60o, respectively, with the normal.
Solution :
c c c c 2c
Snell’s law, µa sin θa =µ b sin θb ⇒ sin=
θa sin θb ⇒ = sin 45° sin 60
= ° ⇒ va
va vb va c/3 3 3
Question 5 :
Find out the focal length of a biconvex lens placed in the air if the radius of curvature
of its surfaces are 60 cm and 15 cm and the refractive index of glass = 1.5.
Solution :
Consider a light ray going through the given lens, R1 R2
as shown in the figure. It strikes the convex side
of 60 cm radius of curvature and the concave
= 1 = 1
side of 15 cm radius while coming out.
R1 = +60 cm, R2 = −15 cm

1  µg  1 1
∴ =  − 1  − 
f µ 1.5
  R1 R2 
1  1.5   1 1
or, = − 1  + 
f  1   60 15 
⇒ f =+24 cm
Question 6 :
Find the angle of refraction in a medium (µ = 2) if light is incident in a vacuum, making
an angle equal to twice the critical angle.
 3  4   3  4 
(a) sin−1  (b) sin−1   (c) cos−1  (d) tan−1 
 4   3   4   3

   
Solution :
Since the incident light is in a rarer medium, total internal reflection cannot take place.
1
θc = sin−1 = 30°
µ
∴ i = 2θc = 60°
Applying Snell’s law, 1sin 60° =2 sin r
3  3
sin r= ⇒ r= sin−1 
4  4 
 
Hence, option (a) is correct.

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Question 7 :
A thin rod of length f/3 is placed along the optical axis of a concave mirror of focal length
f such that its image, which is real and elongated, just touches the rod. Calculate the
magnification.
1 5 2 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
2 2 3 2
Solution :
According to the question, the
image touches the rod i.e., both u´
image and object coincide; hence

one end of the rod should be at
the centre of curvature. As the Rod
P
image is enlarged, it indicates that
the orientation of the rod should Image
f/3 u
be toward focus; then only we
can get an enlarged image along 
the principal axis.
Let ‘l’ be the length of the image.
 mf
Then, m
= ⇒=
f /3 3
Also, one end of the image coincides with the object, u ′ = 2f
f f 5f
Now, u ′ = u + ⇒ u = 2f − =
3 3 3
−5f
This implies, u = , negative sign shows the object is on the left side of the mirror.
3

 f mf 
v=− u + +
 3 3 
Putting in the mirror formula, we get
1 1 1 3 3 1
+ = ⇒ + =
u + f / 3 + mf / 3 u f 5f + f + mf 5f f
1 2 3
⇒ = ⇒m=
m + 6 15 2
Hence, option (d) is correct.

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