Lenses and images formed

by them
 Simple Lens

A simple lens is an optical device which takes

parallel light rays and focuses them to a point.
This point is called the focus or focal point f

Snell’s Law, applied at each point on the surface,

determines where the light comes to a focus.
Simple Lens
 Image Formation in a Lens – Rules
The three basic light rays used in ray tracing:
1. A ray which leaves the object parallel to the axis,
is refracted to pass through the focal point (P).
2. A ray which passes through the lens’s center is
undeflected (M).
3. A ray passing through the focal point (as shown)
is refracted to end up parallel to the axis (F).
* Any of the 2 above must be used in every diagram.*
Image Formation in a Lens – Rules
Rules for image formation
 Images Formed by a Convex Lens

f 2f Object between 2f and f

2f f Image is inverted, real

enlarged.

f 2f Object between f and lens

2f f Image is upright, virtual,

and enlarged.
Images Formed by a Concave Lens

f 2f Object beyond 2f.

2f f Image is upright,
virtual, reduced.

Object between
f 2f f and lens.

2f f Image is upright,
virtual, reduced.
The Thin Lens Equation
h0  hi

f di  f
ho hi

do di

Thin Lens Equation

1 1 1
 
d o di f

Magnification
di hi
m 
d o ho
 Sing Conventions

1. Converging or convex lens

• focal length is positive
• image distance is positive when on the other side
of the lens (with respect to object)
• height upright is positive, inverted is negative
2. Diverging or concave lens
• focal length is negative
• image distance is always negative
(on the same side of the lens as the object)
• height upright is positive, inverted is negative
The image is twice as large as the object
and is located 15 cm from the lens. Find:
a) The focal length
b) The object distance
An object of height 3 cm, is placed 12 cm in front of a diverging
lens with a focal length of – 7.9 cm.
a) Use ray tracing to form the image
b) Use the thin lens equations to find the image distance and size