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Ray Diagrams for Spherical Mirrors & Thin Lenses

Concave (Converging) Mirrors & Convex (Diverging) Mirrors

Convex (Converging) Lenses & Concave (Diverging) Lenses
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Converging Mirror Step
1
1. Ray 1 is drawn from the top of the object parallel
to the principal axis and is reflected through the
focal point, F.
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Converging Mirror Step
2
2. Ray 2 is drawn through the focal point and is
reflected parallel to the principal axis.
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Converging Mirror Step
3
3. Ray 3 is drawn through the center of curvature, C,
and is reflected back on itself.
4. The image is formed where the three lines
converge.

Note: The third ray is not really needed, since the first two are sufficient to locate the image.
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Diverging Mirror Step
1
1. Ray 1 is drawn from the top of the object parallel
to the principal axis and is reflected through the
focal point, F.
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Diverging Mirror Step
2
2. Ray 2 is drawn through the focal point and is
reflected parallel to the principal axis.
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Diverging Mirror Step
3
3. Ray 3 is drawn through the center of curvature, C,
and is reflected back on itself.
4. The image is formed where the three lines
converge.
The image formed by a
convex mirror is always
virtual, upright and
diminished.

Note: The third ray is not really needed, since the first two are sufficient to locate the image.
Spherical Aberration
 Rays that are far from the
principal axis converge to
other points on the principal
axis.
 The light rays make large
angles with the principal axis.
This produces a blurred
image.
 The effect is called spherical
aberration.
 For a mirror, parabolic shapes
can be used to correct for
spherical aberration.
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Lenses

Converging Lens Diverging Lens

A converging lens brings The rays emerging from a

incoming rays together at the diverging lens appear to have
focal point. come from a single focal point.
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Converging Lens Step
1
1. The first ray is drawn parallel to the principal
axis. After being refracted by the lens, this ray
passes through the focal point.
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Converging Lens Step
2
2. The second ray is drawn through the center of the
lens. This ray continues in a straight line.
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Converging Lens Step
3
3. The third ray is drawn through the other focal
point and emerges from the lens parallel to the
principal axis.
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Converging Lens Step
4
4. The image is formed where the three lines
converge.

Note: The third ray is not really needed, since the first two are sufficient to locate the image.
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Converging Lens
For p < f, trace rays backward with dotted lines to
locate virtual image formed.
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Diverging Lens Step
1
1. The first ray is drawn parallel to the principal
axis. After being refracted by the lens, this ray
passes through the focal point.
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Diverging Lens Step
2
2. The second ray is drawn through the center of the
lens. This ray continues in a straight line.
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Diverging Lens Step
3
3. The third ray is drawn through the other focal
point and emerges from the lens parallel to the
principal axis.
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Diverging Lens Step
4
4. The image is formed where the three lines
converge.
A diverging lens always forms a virtual, upright
and diminished image.

Note: The third ray is not really needed, since the first two are sufficient to locate the image.
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Spherical Aberration
Spherical aberration occurs when rays far from the axis do not focus at
the focal point.
Cameras are equipped with an adjustable aperture to control the light
intensity and, when possible, reduce spherical aberration
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Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration occurs because the index of refraction depends
slightly on wavelength, so light of different wavelengths focuses at
different points.
Chromatic aberration can be minimized by the use of a combination of
converging and diverging lenses made of different materials.