Introductory Physics II

Geometric Optics - Chapter 34

Lenses

Lecture 30 – August 9
Outline
• Review – reflection and refraction of light (33.2)
• Law of reflection
• Law of refraction (Snell’s law)
• Plane mirrors (34.1)
• Spherical mirrors (34.2)
• Lenses (33.3 and 33.4)

New concepts/quantities
• Index of refraction
• Object and image (and respective distances)
• Real and virtual images
• Sign convention
Image of a Point Object at a Spherical Surface

na nb nb  na object–image relationship,
 
s s R spherical refracting surface
 Apparent Depth of a Swimming Pool
application for infinite R
na nb
 0 (plane refracting surface)
s s

• Indices of refraction are positive.

• S’ should be negative – virtual image

When light travels through a plane surface

between two optical materials
• the image has the same lateral size (m = 1)
• is always erect.

The apparent depth of a pool is less than its actual depth.

 Magnification
𝑦′
𝑚= Same definition as for mirrors.
𝑦

𝑛𝑎 𝑠 ′
𝑚=− For the interface between two media.
𝑛𝑏 𝑠

na nb 𝑠′ 𝑛𝑏
 0 𝑠
=−
𝑛𝑎 𝑚=1
s s

• The image is the same size as the object (m=1)

• The image is erect (m>0)
 Lenses
• A lens has two refracting surfaces.
• The formula(s) should be applied twice, at each interface.
• The image produced by refraction at the first interface is the object for
the second interface.

• 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
𝑠 𝑠′ 𝑓
𝑠′
𝑚=− Magnification of a thin lens in air.
𝑠
 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.
 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 𝑅 2 ) n- index of refraction of the lens material
R1 – radius of the first interface
R2 – radius of the second interface

• This works for a lens in air.

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