Lenses

Recently, in Term 3, under the topic Physics, I was taught about lenses, which I find an extremely eye-opening topic. I enjoy learning about lenses, as it is quite simple to understand what I have been taught so far, and I really like the topic. I have been taught that there are two different types of lenses, converging and diverging lenses. Converging lenses allow light rays which pass through to converge at a single principal focus, while light rays which pass through diverging lenses diverge except for the centre ray. Converging lenses are widely used in our daily lives, and each converging lens also has a different focal point. Through various practical experiments which were conducted in the Science Laboratory, I have learned that a different positioning of the object from the lens will result in a different form of the image.

I learned that if the object distance from the converging lens is more than twice the focal length, the image formed will be real, as it can be projected on a screen. It will also be smaller than the original object and it will be inverted.

Next, I learned that if the object distance from the converging lens is equal to twice the focal length, the image formed will be real, as it can be projected on a screen as well. It will also be the same size as that of the object, and it will be inverted.

As for if the object distance from the converging lens would be less than twice the focal length but more then the focal length,  the image formed would still be real, as it can be projected on a screen as well. However, it will appear bigger, but remains inverted.

Next, if the object distance from the converging lens were to be less than the focal length, the image formed this time would be virtual, not being able to be projected on a screen. It would also be bigger and upright. Such an application in our daily lives is the magnifying glass, as it is held closer to the object than the focal length to allow a bigger image that is upright to be formed.

Finally, I was taught that when the object distance to the converging lens is the same as the focal length, there would be no image formed.