Optics  is the branch of physics that deals with the properties and behavior of light.

Refraction of light is
the bending of light when it travels from one transparent medium to the other. Light travels at a different
speed in different optical media. Refractive index is the refracting ability of a medium. Higher the
refractive index denser the medium. In this topic, you will be studying about the lens as the refracting
medium, important terms related to a lens, type of lens and difference between the types of lens.

Lens

 A lens is a transparent refracting medium bounded by two curved surfaces which are generally
spherical.

 Convex lens or converging lens converges light rays as shown in figure 1.

 Concave lens or diverging lens diverges light rays as shown in figure 2.

Type of Lens

Action of lens as a set of prisms

·    A convex lens bends the ray of light towards its middle i.e. it converges the light.
·    A concave lens bends the ray of light towards its edges i.e. it diverges the light.
 

Important terms

·    The centre of curvature of a lens is usually represented by the letter C.

o   Since there are two centres of curvature, we may represent them as C1 and C2.
·    The radius of the sphere, of which the part is the lens surface is called the radius of curvature of that
surface of the lens.
·    An imaginary straight line passing through the two centres of curvature of the lens is called
its principal axis.
 ·    The central point of a lens is its optical centre.
o   It is usually represented by the letter O.
o   A ray of light through the optical centre of a lens passes without suffering any deviation.
·    The effective diameter of the circular outline of a spherical lens is called its aperture.
·    A lens has two principal foci F1 and F2.
o   F1 is the first focal point and F2 is the second focal point.
·    The distance of the principal focus from the optical centre of a lens is called its focal length.
o   The letter f is used to represent the focal length.
o   f1  is the first focal length (the distance of O from F1).
o   f2  is the first focal length (the distance of O from F2).

Difference between a convex and a concave lens

Convex lens Concave lens

It is thick in the middle and thin at its periphery. It is thin in the middle and thick at its periphery.

It converges the incident rays towards the principle It diverges the incident rays away from the principle
axis. axis.

It has a real focus. It has a virtual focus.

A lens is a transparent optical object comprising of one or two curved surfaces that refract light. A lens
might either diverge or converge rays of light falling on it, thus forming an image. The concept of
refraction of light is used by the lens to form an image.

Most common application of lens is in optical devices such as telescopes and microscopes.

In this topic, you will study about rules of refraction through lens, difference between real and virtual
images and image formation by convex and concave lens.
 Image Formation in Lenses using Ray Diagrams

Rule 1 – An incident ray of light, which is parallel to the principal axis of a lens after refraction passes
through the second focus F2 ( in a convex lens ) or appears to come from the second focus F2 ( in a concave
lens).

Rule 2
·    A ray of light passing through the principal focus (first focal point), after refraction from a convex lens,
will emerge parallel to the principal axis.
·    A ray of light appearing to meet at the principal focus (first focal point) of a concave lens, after
refraction, will emerge parallel to the principal axis.

Rule 3
·     A ray of light passing through the optical centre of a lens will emerge without any deviation.

Distinction between real and virtual image

Real image Virtual image

A real image is formed due to the actual A virtual image is formed when the refracted (or reflected)
intersection of the refracted (or reflected) rays. rays appear to meet if they are produced backwards.

A real image can be obtained on the screen. A virtual image cannot be obtained on the screen.

A real image is inverted with respect to the

A virtual image is erect with respect to the object.
object..

Example: the image of a distant object formed by Example: the image of an object formed by a concave lens.
a convex lens.

 A real image is inverted with respect to the object.

 A virtual image is erect with respect to the object.

Case 1

Posn. of object At infinity

Posn. of image At the focus F2F2

Relative size of the image Highly diminished, point-sized

Nature of image Real and inverted

Application Burning glass

Image Formation by Convex Lenses

Case 2

Posn. of object Beyond 2F12F1

Posn. of image Between F2F2 and 2F22F2

Relative size of the image Diminished

Nature of the image Real and inverted

Application Camera lens

Case 3

Posn. of object At 2F12F1

Posn. of image At 2F22F2

Relative size of the image Same size

Nature of image Real & inverted

Application To get inverted image

Case 4

Posn. of object Between F1F1 & 2F12F1

Posn. of image Beyond 2F22F2

Relative size of the image Magnified

Nature of the image Real & inverted

Application Slide projector

Case 5

Posn. of object At F1F1

Posn. of image At infinity

Relative size of the image Very much magnified

Nature of the image Real & inverted

Application Collimator

Case 6

Posn. of object Between F1F1 & O

Posn. of image Same side as object

Relative size of the image Magnified

Nature of the image Virtual & erect

Application Magnifying glass

Image Formation by Concave Lenses

Case 1

Posn of object Btw infinity & O

Posn of image Btw F1F1 & O

Relative size of image Diminished

Nature of image Virtual & erect

Case 2 

Position of object At infinity

Position of  image At focus F1F1

Relative size  image Highly diminished point-sized

Nature of  image Virtual & erect

The capacity of a lens to bend light defines the lens power. The refraction of light is increased with the
increase in lens  power. Dioptres is the unit to measure lens power.

The ratio of the height of an image to the height of an object is known as the magnification  of a lens. It can
also be defined with respect to image distance and object distance.

The point on which all parallel rays of light converge is the focal point of a convex lens.The distance
between the centre of a convex lens and the focal point of a lens is the focal length.The focal length of a
convex lens can be determined by the distant object method.

The point where light rays parallel to the principal axis  appear to diverge from after passing through the
concave lens is the  focal point of a concave lens. The distance between concave lens to the focal point is
the focal length of the concave lens. The focal point of a concave lens is virtual as light does not actually
pass through the point.

In this topic, you will learn more about power, magnification and determination of the focal point with the
help of relevant diagrams.

Power of a lens

 The power of a lens is a measure of deviation produced by it in the path of rays refracted through
it.
1. P = 1f1f.
2. The SI unit of power of a lens is ‘dioptre’, denoted by the letter D.
3. Power of a convex lens is positive and that of a concave lens is negative.

Ray diagram of simple microscope

 Magnifying power = m = 1 + DfDf.

 The magnifying power of the microscope can be increased by using the lens of short focal length,
but it cannot be increased indefinitely.
Experiments for determination of focal length of a convex lens

·    Estimation of focal length by the distant object method

·    Estimation of focal length by auxillary plane mirror method 
 

Application of lenses

Uses of a convex lens

·    It is used in a number of optical instruments such as camera, telescope, microscope and so on.
·    It is used as a reading lens and as a magnifying glass.
·    It is used in spectacles for the correction of long-sightedness of the eyes.

Uses of a concave lens

·    It is used in telescopes to see far off places.

·    It is used in spectacles for the correction of the short-sightedness of the eyes.