Converging and Diverging
Lenses
Obj: To examine the features of convex lens and use the lens
equation.
Materials: optical bench, convex lens, diverging lens, 15W bulb
Procedures
Convex (Converging, positive) lens
Part I. Approximating
the focal length (+f)
1. Set your lens on the print of this lab paper, then pull back
until the print blurs. Measure this distance.
2. Aim the optical bench towards the window such that light from
across the courtyard focuses on the screen. Measure and record
this distance in as the approximate focal length, f, and compare
above.
3. Check your lens for chromatic aberration. Define chromatic
aberration.
Part II.
Three images and the lens equation
1. The room
should be dark for this part. Draw a caricature face on the 15 W
light bulb. Use the face on the light bulb as the object.
Arrange the lens, screen, and object on the meter stick as
discussed such that you obtain the following three conditions.
For each
condition listed below
(L)
(a) measure and record the object (do) and image
distances (di) from the lens.
(b) Use do and di values to calculate the
focal length of the lens using the lens equation.
(c) Determine the magnification factor from your measurements.
Condition 1: a real, enlarged image.
Condition 2: a real image, exactly equal in size to the object.
Condition 3: a real image smaller than the object.
Concave Lens
(diverging, negative) lens
Part III. Determining
the focal length (-f)
1. Examine a
concave lens. Describe the image of any object at close and long
range.
2. Set up the convex lens to produce an image on the
screen approximately 20 cm from the lens and record the position
on the meter stick of this image. This image will now be used as
a virtual object for the concave lens.
3. Place the concave lens between the convex lens and the screen
and then move the screen back 10 to 12 cm.
4. By adjusting the position of the concave lens you should get
an image on the screen. [DO NOT ADJUST THE POSITION OF THE OBJECT
OR THE CONVEX LENS.]
5. Record the position of the concave lens and the position of
the screen as +di. The virtual object distance do
is negative. Calculate the focal length of the concave lens using
the lens equation. The object and image distances are measured
from the concave lens. Be careful of ± signs with images and
objects.
Part IV Conjugate
Points
1. Place the
illuminated object at the zero position of the optical bench.
2. Arrange the screen at a distance of about 5f. Record the
screen position.
3. Keeping the distance between the object and the screen fixed
(D), find the two positions of the lens that give sharply defined
images. Record these two positions. The difference between
these two positions will be the distance, d. The focal length can
found using the equation
f = (D2 - d2) / 4D
4. Compare with previously calculated focal lengths.
Analysis
1. Describe the
conditions when a convex lens acts as a magnifying glass? Read
this with your lenses: Physics is my favorite course.
2. Name two ways
to determine the focal length of a convex lens without
using the lens equation.
3. Describe the conditions for each type of lens for forming a
virtual image.
4. Define chromatic aberration and spherical aberration.
What is astigmatism?
5. Which lens type will correct for nearsightedness?
Farsightedness?
Back to the Brockport High School Science Department