Optics

• Optics is a branch of physics in which the phenomena and laws are associated
light and optical elements. There are three main categories of optics:

1. Geometrical Optics
2. Physical Optics
3. Quantum Optics
 Geometrical Optics
• In geometrical optics, light can be considered as a ray or beam
which shows effects like reflection, refraction etc. when it
passes through optical elements.

Physical Optics
• In physical optics, light is considered as the electromagnetic
wave which shoes the effects like interference, diffraction and
polarization.

Quantum Optics
• In quantum optics, light is considered as a photon.
 Optical lenses
• What are Lenses?
A lens is a transmissive optical device that focuses or disperses light beams using refraction. A
simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while compound lenses consist of
several simple lenses arranged along with a common axis. A lens can focus light to form an
image, unlike a prism, which refracts light without focusing.
 Mirrors Vs Lens
• The most apparent distinction between mirrors and lenses is that mirrors
reflect light rays (light bounces back) while light rays are refracted (pass-
through) through a lens. A mirror will have only one focal point, which is in
front of the mirror. A lens has two focal points, each on either side. In the
table below, let us look at more differences between mirror and lens.

Mirror
A mirror is a glass surface with a
silvery backing, that produces an
image through reflection.
It can either be plane or curved
The working principle of the
mirror is the law of reflection
Lens
A lens is a transparent substance
of glass or plastic, bound by two
surfaces, whose at least one
surface is curved.
It is usually curved
The working principle of the
mirror is the law of refraction
 Types Of Lenses
• The lens classification depends on how the light rays bend
when they pass through the lens. The two main types of
lenses are:
• Convex Lens (Converging)
• Concave Lens (Diverging)
• Convex lenses are thick in the middle and thinner at the
edges. A convex lens is also known as the converging lens as
the light rays bend inwards and converge at a point which is
known as focal length.
• A concave lens is flat in the middle and thicker at the edges.
The concave lens is also known as a diverging lens because it
bends the parallel light rays outward and diverges them at
the focal point.
• Simple lens and compound lens are the two classifications of
lenses. Simple lenses are different from compound lenses
based on their surface of curvature. Following are the
different types of simple lenses.
How lenses works

Convex Lens
(Converging)
How lenses works

Concave Lens
(Diverging)