Magnification and Thin Lens

Table of Content

Magnification
Power of a Lens
Thin Lens
Image formation in Thin Lenses
Combination of Thin Lenses in contact
Test your knowledge
Related Resources

Magnification

In new Cartesian sign convention, we define magnification is such a way that a negative sign (of m) implies inverted image and vice-versa. A real image is always inverted one and a virtual one is always erect. Keeping these points in mind and that the real object and its real image would lie on the same sides in case of mirror and on opposite sides in case of lenses.

Let us consider an object OO ′ placed on the principal axis with its height perpendicular to the principal axis as shown in figure. The ray OP passing through the optic centre will go un deviated. The ray O ′A parallel to the principal axis must pass through the focus F₂. The image is formed where O ′PI ′ and AF₂I ′ intersect. Draw a perpendicular from I ′ to the principal axis. This perpendicular II ′ is the image of OO ′.

The linear or transverse magnification is defined as the ratio of the size of the image to that of the object.

Thus, Magnification m = Size of the image/Size of the object = II'/OO' = h₂/h₁

Here h₁ is the height of the object and h₂ is the height of the image. From the similar right angled triangles OO^′P and II ^′P, we have,

II'/OO' = PI/PO

Applying sign convention,

II' = – h₂OO' = +h₁

PI = +v PO = – u

Substituting this in the above equation, we get magnification

m = –h₂/ +h₁ = +v/-u

So,

The magnification is negative for real image and positive for virtual image. In the case of a concave lens, it is always positive.

Using lens formula the equation for magnification can also be obtained as,

m = h₂/h₁ = v/u = (f – v) / f = f/f+u

This equation is valid for both convex and concave lenses and for real and virtual images.

Power of a Lens

Power of a lens is a measure of the degree of convergence or divergence of light falling on it. The power of a lens (P) is defined as the reciprocal of its focal length.

The unit of power is dioptre (D) : 1 D = 1 m^-1. The power of the lens is said to be 1 dioptre if the focal length of the lens is 1 meter. P is positive for converging lens and negative for diverging lens. Thus, when an optician prescribes a corrective lens of power + 0.5 D, the required lens is a convex lens of focal length + 2 m. A power of -2.0 D means a concave lens of focal length -0.5 m.

Thin Lens

A lens is a transparent medium (usually glass) bounded by two curved surfaces (generally either spherical, cylindrical, or plane surfaces). As illustrated in figure the line which passes normally through both bounding surfaces of a lens is called the optic axis. The point O on the optic axis which lies midway between the two bounding surfaces is called the optic centre.

There are two basic kinds of lenses: converging, and diverging. A converging lens brings all incident light-rays parallel to its optic axis together at a point F, behind the lens, called thefocal point, or focus, of the lens. A diverging lens spreads out all incident light-rays parallel to its optic axis so that they appear to diverge from a virtual focal point F in front of the lens. Here, the front side of the lens is conventionally defined to be the side from which the light is incident. The differing effects of a converging and a diverging lens on incident light-rays parallel to the optic axis (i.e., emanating from a distant object) are illustrated in figure.

Image formation in Thin Lenses

A ray entering a converging lens parallel to its axis passes through the focal point F of the lens on the other side.
A ray entering a diverging lens parallel to its axis seems to come from the focal point F.
A ray passing through the center of either a converging or a diverging lens does not change direction.
A ray entering a converging lens through its focal point exits parallel to its axis.
A ray that enters a diverging lens by heading toward the focal point on the opposite side exits parallel to the axis.

Combination of Thin Lenses in contact

Let us consider two lenses A and B of focal length f₁ and f₂ placed in contact with each other. An object is placed at O beyond the focus of the first lens A on the common principal axis. The lens A produces an image at I₁. This image I₁ acts as the object for the second lens B. The final image is produced at I as shown in figure. Since the lenses are thin, a common optical centre P is chosen.

Let PO = u, object distance for the first lens (A), PI = v, final image distance and PI₁ = v₁, image distance for the first lens (A) and also object distance for second lens (B).

For the image I₁ produced by the first lens A,

1/v₁ – 1/u = 1/f₁ ….... (1)

For the final image I, produced by the second lens B,

1/v – 1/v₁ = 1/f₂ …... (2)

Adding equations (1) and (2),

1/v – 1/u = 1/f₁ + 1/f₂ …... (3)

If the combination is replaced by a single lens of focal length F such that it forms the image of O at the same position I, then

1/v – 1/u = 1/F …... (4)

From equations (3) and (4),

1/F = 1/f₁ + 1/f₂ …... (5)

This F is the focal length of the equivalent lens for the combination.

The derivation can be extended for several thin lenses of focal lengths f₁, f₂, f₃ ... in contact. The effective focal length of the combination is given by,

…... (6)

In terms of power, equation (6) can be written as,

…... (7)

The power of a combination of lenses in contact is the algebraic sum of the powers of individual lenses.

Watch this Video for more reference

The combination of lenses is generally used in the design of objectives of microscopes, cameras, telescopes and other optical instruments.
If two thin lenses of equal focal length but of opposite nature (i.e., one convergent and other divergent) are put in contact, the resultant focal length of the combination will be the system behave as a plane glass plate.
If two thin lenses of same nature are put in contact then as the resultant focal length will be lesser than smallest focal length of an individual lens.
The poer of the combination of two lenses in contact is equal to the sum of the powers of the individual lenses.
If two thin lenses of opposite nature with different focal lengths are put in contact, the resultant focal length will be same nature as that of the lens of shorter focal length but its magnitude will be more than that of shorter focal length.
If f₁>f₂ the combined lens behaves as a concave lens.
If f₂> f₁ the combined lens behaved as a convex lens.
The image of an object can be made erect and much magnified by using more than one lenses. Therefore suitable combination of lenses are used in high powered optical instruments.
For a single surface two principal focal lengths f₁ and f₂ can never be same since refractive indices of the two medii on either side of surface are different.
Two focal lengths of a lens have same value if the nature of medium on the two sides of the lens is same.
A convex lens can be made to act as a divergent lens by immersing it in a liquid of refractive index greater than that of material of lens.
A convex lens can be made to act as a convergent lens by immersing it in a liquid of refractive index greater than that of material of lens.

Problem (JEE Main):

A concave mirror has a focal length 20 cm. The distance between the two positions of the object for which the image size is double of the object size is

(a) 20 cm (b) 40 cm

Solution:

For real image, u = – u₁, v = – 2u₁ and f = – 20 cm

Substituting in 1/v + 1/u = 1/f

We get,

(1/-2u₁) – (1/u₁) = – 1/20

Or, u₁ = 30 cm

For virtual image, u = – u₂, v = 2u₂, f = – 20 cm

So, 1/2u₂ – 1/u₂ = – 1/20

Or, u₂ = -10 cm

The distance between two positions of the object are u₁ – u₂.

So, u₁ – u₂ = 30 cm – 10 cm = 20 cm

Thus from the above observation we conclude that, option (a) is correct.

Question 1

A converging lens is used to form an image on a screen. When the lower half of the lens is covered by an opaque screen then,

(a) half of the image will disappear

(b) complete image will be formed

(d) intensity of the image is high

Question 2

Light passes through a closed tube which contains a gas. If the gas inside the tube is gradually pumped out, the speed of light inside the tube

(a) increases (b) decreases

Question 3

A positive magnification greater than unity indicates _____________________.

(a) real image (b) virtual image

Question 4

Which of the following is a true statement?

(a) The power of a lens is always positive.

(b) The power of a lens is always negative.

(d) The power of a concave lens is positive.

Question 5

The image formed by a concave mirror is real, inverted and of the same size as that of the object.The position of the object should be ________.

(a) beyond the center of curvature of mirror

(b) between the center of curvature and the focus

(d) at the focus

Q.1	Q.2	Q.3	Q.4	Q.5
b	a	b	c	c

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