Lenses

A. Basic Concepts

Behaviour of Light Rays

1. All incident rays parallel to the principal axis:

a) Pass through the principal focus (vice-versa) after passing through a thin
converging lens
b) Meet on the focal plane after passing through a thin converging lens
2. All incident rays passing through the optical centre (centre of lens):
c) Go through undeviated

Formation of Image

All incident rays coming from the same point of the object will:
REAL IMAGE: Meet at the same (corresponding) point after passing through a
thin converging lens
VIRTUAL IMAGE: Appear to originate from the corresponding point

Lens Formula
1

1 1

m=

hi v
=
ho u

1. f = u + v
2.

f : Focal length (distance between principal focus and lens)

u : Distance between object and lens

v : Distance between image and lens

hi : Height of image
ho : Height of object

m : Magnification
Sign convention: Real is positive

Virtual image (same side as object):

is negative

B. How to solve lens problems?

1. Are these present?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Source of light/ object

Image
Lens
Light rays
Principal focus

2. Choose 2 most convenient rays (if object/image/principal focus known)

3. Real image forms where 2 light rays meet. If 2 light rays do not converge, extend
them backwards using virtual light rays, forming a virtual image.