AIM

of convex
a lens by plotting graphs between uand vor and 1
To find the focal length
APPARATUS REQUIRED
An optical bench, three upright stands, convex lens, lens holder, two optical needles,,kniting net
a half metre scale etc.
PROCEDURE
of the convex lens using a metre
1. Find the rough (approximate) focal length
screen.
scalebyforming
an image of a far off object on a wallor
needlas.
2. Mount the convex lens on the upright with the help of lens holder. Put two
other two uprights upto the same vertical heights. Label one of them as object needle (0
and other as image needle (1) by using a small sticker. B
Image of AB

F A'
2F
A 2F

Image Needle
CD
Object needle
AB
B D
Two pin method for determining the focal length f of a convex lens
R
 : Findtheindex correction for object needle and lens using aknitting needle, and then for
lens
needleand
image object needle at a distance greater than the
Placethe byyou).
(as
obtained
image
needle at the position of
image
appr
formed
oximate focal length of convex
lens
by
:
the
parallax
Place (ifpresent). convex lens and
the
values:of uand vand apply index
corrections to both. remove any
Note procedureto obtain 5-6 sets of
Repeatthesame observations.
6
7.
OBSERVATIONS
focal length of lens
Approximate. Cm.

correctionfor object: needle = Cm.

Index
correctionfor image needle Cm,
Index
Position ofthe Object distance Image distance
(cm) |v= LI
u=0L
llv (U)=(/u) +(1/v
Obiect
LensL Image
needle I
Observed Corrected Observed Corrected (cm)(cm) (cm)
(cm) f
(cm)
needleO (cm)
(cm)
(cm)

Graph
. The graph is plotted with ualong x-axis and v along y-axis.
positive. Arectangular hyperbola is obtained. Here, uis negative while vis
10
cm

Scale

10 cm

v(cm)

45
X
u (cm)
M2 X

Graph of v us ufora convex lens

To find ffrom the graph, a line is drawn from 0, bisecting the angle between axes (45') and
striking the graph at point (-2f. 2f).
Horizontal coordinate Vertical coordinate
f= and f =
2
The mean of these two values of f gives the focal lengths.
2. The graph between 1/u (along x--axis) and l/v (along y-axis) is a straight line
The intercepts on X-axis and Y-axis are same. graph.
Scale 1/v
(cm

Gm

for a convex lens

Graph of 1/v us 1/u
RESULTS Cm.
asf=
1. Focallength of convex lens is obtained of the lens comes out
to be
2. Fromn graph between u and v, the focal length Cm.
and 1/v: the focal length comes out to be Cm.
omgraph between 1/u
PRECAUTIONS
be chosen for both axes while plotting the graph.
I. Same scale should carefully recorded and applied.
L. lndex correction should be
removed from tip to tip.
3. Parallax should be carefully
should be large.
4. Focal length of convex lens used
absolutely horizontal.
5. The optical bench should be upright stand should be
6. The principal axis of the mirror when mounted the
parallel to th
bed of optical bench. reach the same horizontal level
mounted that their tips
7. The needles should be so
SOURCES OF ERROR

1. The stands may not be perfectly vertical.

correctly.
2. Index error may not be obtained
3. Parallax may not be removed
satisfactorily.