Difference Between Convex and Concave Lens
Difference Between Convex and Concave Lens
Difference Between Convex and Concave Lens
Lens
Key Difference: Concave and convex are two basic types of lenses. A convex lens focuses light rays, whereas a
concave lens causes the light rays to diverge.
emerging rays do not actually intersect. However, they seem to intersect on the incidence side by
tracing the emerging rays backward.
This phenomenon is responsible for the creation of virtual images. Therefore, the image created
by a concave lens is always a virtual image rather than a real image. They are unable to form an
image on a screen. However, they are widely used together with convex lens in order to provide
sharp images to the convex lens.
Comparison between Convex and Concave Lenses:
Structure
Other name
Images Formed
Meaning
In Spectacles
Applications
Focal Length
Concave
Convex
A concave lens
is thinner in the
A convex lens is thicker in the middle and thinner at the
middle and
edges.
thicker at the
edges.
Diverging Lens Converging Lens
Real , inverted, smaller than object, - object at F
Virtual, upright
and smaller than Real , inverted, same size as object, - object at 2F
the object
between object Real , inverted, larger than object, object between 2F and F
and the lens.
(regardless of
No image - object at F
the object's
position)
Virtual, upright, larger than object behind object on the
same side of the lens
Concave means
Convex means curved or rounded like the outside of a
hollowed or
sphere or circle.
rounded.
Used for the
correction of
Used for the correction of problem in long sight.
problem in short
sight.
Glasses (to
correct for short
sight), spy holes Eye, camera, overhead projector, focus sunlight,
in doors, some projector microscope, simple telescope, glasses (to correct
telescopes, back for long sight), magnifying glass, etc.
window of
coaches, etc.
Negative
Positive