Introductory Physics II

Geometric Optics – Part 2 - Chapter 32 and 33

Lenses
Examples

Lecture 21 – April 4
Outline
• Review – reflection and refraction of light
• Law of reflection
• Law of refraction (Snell’s law)
• Plane mirrors
• Spherical mirrors
• Lenses

New concepts/quantities
• Object and image (and respective distances)
• Focal length
• Real and virtual images
• Sign convention
 Focal Length and Radius
𝑅
𝑓= For spherical mirrors
2

The sign convention for radius

applies to the focal length too:
• f > 0 – concave mirror
• f < 0 – convex mirror
𝑑𝑖

1 1 1 𝑑𝑜
+ =
𝑑 𝑜 𝑑𝑖 𝑓
Graphical Method of Locating Images

Q’
Graphical Method of Locating Images
summary – concave mirror
Graphical Method of Locating Images
summary – convex mirror
Magnification for spherical mirrors

𝑑𝑖
𝑚=−
𝑑𝑜

• If do,di are both positive m is negative -> The image is inverted

• do > di so |m| <1
• The image is smaller than the object.
 Lenses
• A lens has two refracting surfaces.

• converging lens - thicker at its center than at its edges (positive f );

• diverging lens - thicker at its edges than at its center (negative f).
Geometry of a Converging Lens

F1 F2

Center of the lens

Optic axis

• Two centers of curvature (C1,C2)

• Two focal points (F1,F2)
• Optic axis
• Center of the lens (where the axis
intersects the lens)
 Thin Lens
Thin lens - two spherical surfaces
close enough together that we can
ignore the distance between them.
• The result obtained by applying
twice the formula for refractive
surface becomes very simple.
• We will restrict our discussion to
thin lenses.

1 1 1
+ = Thin lens equation
𝑑 𝑜 𝑑𝑖 𝑓
𝑑𝑖
𝑚=− Magnification of a thin lens in air.
𝑑𝑜
 Focal points of lenses - converging
• The focal points of a lens behave
in a manner similar to the focal
point of a mirror.
• Now we have two focal points
• Light can come from both sides of
the lens.

• Incoming parallel beam is

concentrated in the focal point.
• Light diverging from a focal point
emerges as a parallel beam.
• The focal length of a diverging
lens is a positive quantity.
 Focal points of lenses – diverging lens

• Parallel beam diverges

after refraction.
• Beam converging in a
focal point is parallel after
refraction.

• The focal length of a

diverging lens is a negative
quantity, and the lens is
also called a negative lens.
Image Formed by a Thin Converging Lens
graphical method for construction of the image

P’

Q’

• Ray parallel to the optical axis -> refracted through focal point
• Ray through focal point -> refracted parallel to the optic axis
• Ray through the center -> no change in direction
Graphical Methods for a Diverging Lens
 Lensmaker's Equation
f- focal length
1
𝑓
=( 𝑛 −1 )
1
+
(1
𝑅1 𝑅2 ) n- index of refraction of the lens material
R1 – radius of the first interface
R2 – radius of the second interface

𝑑𝑜 𝑑𝑖

• R is positive for a convex surface and negative for a concave surface.

• A lens dipped in a different medium will have a different focal length.