Physics 117 Lecture on Thin Lenses

Flashcards created from lecture notes on thin lenses, covering key concepts and terminology in optics.

Thin Lenses

Lenses that are characterized by being thin and are used to form images through the process of refraction.

Converging Lens

A lens that is thicker at the center than at the edges, bending light toward the principal axis.

Diverging Lens

A lens that is thinner at the center than at the edges, bending light away from the principal axis.

Focal Point

The point through which rays parallel to the principal axis pass after being refracted by a converging lens, or from which they appear to diverge after passing through a diverging lens.

Focal Length (f)

The distance from the focal point to the lens, indicating how strongly the lens converges or diverges light.

Real Image

An image formed on the opposite side of the lens from the object, which is inverted and can be projected onto a screen.

Virtual Image

An image formed on the same side of the lens as the object, which is upright and cannot be projected onto a screen.

Ray Diagram

A diagram that uses lines to represent the paths that light rays take through a lens.

Lens-maker’s Equation

An equation that relates the focal length of a lens in air to the curvatures of its surfaces and the refractive index of the lens material.

Overall Magnification

The product of the magnifications produced by each lens in a system, determining the size of the final image compared to the original object.