Magnifying Power Sign Conventions
Microscopes vs. Telescopes
Fundamental Difference in Sign Convention
In optical physics, magnification can have a positive or negative sign, indicating whether the image is
upright (+) or inverted (-) relative to the object. Both microscopes and telescopes produce inverted images,
which by strict optical theory should result in a negative magnification. However, by convention:
Microscopes: Magnifying power is reported as a positive number
Telescopes: Magnifying power is reported with a negative sign
This difference stems from historical conventions and practical considerations rather than fundamental
optical differences between the instruments.
Types of Magnification
Understanding this difference requires distinguishing between two types of magnification:
1. Linear (Lateral) Magnification: The ratio of image size to object size
Positive value: Image is upright
Negative value: Image is inverted
2. Angular Magnification: The ratio of the angle subtended by the image to the angle subtended by the
object
In strict optical theory, only the magnitude is considered
In practice, a negative sign is often included for telescopes to indicate image inversion
Microscope Magnification Telescope Magnification
In a compound microscope, total magnification For a telescope, angular magnification is given
is calculated as: by:
Mmicroscope = mobjective × Meyepiece Mtelescope = -fobjective/feyepiece
Where: The negative sign is explicitly included to
mobjective is linear magnification (typically indicate that the image is inverted relative to
the object. This convention is maintained
negative as it forms an inverted real image)
because:
Meyepiece is angular magnification
While this would mathematically yield a 1. In astronomical observations, orientation of
celestial objects is often important
negative value, microscope manufacturers
conventionally report only the absolute 2. The inversion affects how the telescope
needs to be moved to track objects
magnitude because:
3. In optical calculations, maintaining the sign
1. The primary purpose is enlargement, not
helps in understanding the optical path
orientation
2. For practical laboratory use, knowing the As noted in University Physics: "The minus sign
magnification factor is more useful in the magnification indicates the image is
3. In modern microscopes with infinity- inverted, which is unimportant for observing
conjugate optics, the "magnification" isn't the stars but is a real problem for other
even a true linear magnification applications."
Underlying Physics
Both instruments form inverted images through their objectives, but they're used for different purposes:
Microscopes examine small, nearby objects where absolute magnification factor is the primary
concern
Telescopes observe distant objects where angular size and orientation relative to celestial coordinates
are important
Practical Reasons for Different Conventions
The different sign conventions originated from practical considerations:
1. In microscopy, users typically only care about how much larger the specimen appears, not its
orientation
2. In astronomy, keeping track of orientation is important for navigation and mapping
3. The convention helps distinguish between different optical systems (e.g., Galilean telescopes, which
produce upright images, would have positive magnification)
Summary
The sign difference is primarily a matter of convention rather than an intrinsic optical difference.
Microscopes and telescopes both produce inverted images, but microscope magnification is
conventionally reported as positive (focusing on the enlargement factor), while telescope magnification
retains the negative sign (indicating image inversion). This reflects the different practical needs and
historical developments in these two fields of optics.
References:
Wikipedia: Magnification
University Physics (LibreTexts): Microscopes and Telescopes
Lumen Learning: Telescopes (SUNY Physics)
Physics StackExchange: Magnification in compound microscope
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