Experiment 9: Study of Leenses

Lemuel Valerio, Cynthia Villegas, Rich Renvic Vito, Lizlane Zamora

Department of Math and Physics
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila Philippines
Abstract
This experiment is about the different
effects of light on the lens to form an image.
The location and size of an image can be
determined graphically, by means of the
behavior of three characteristic rays. The
thin lens equation, ,1-.=,1-.+,1-., was
used by our group to compute for the focal
length of the lens for chromatic aberrations.
Results from the gathered data are the key
factors that will give the most possible value
of the effect being determined in the
experiment.
I. Introduction
This experiment is about the different
effects of light on the lens to form an image.
The location and size of an image can be
determined graphically, by means of the
behavior of three characteristic rays. The thin
lens equation, ,1-.=,1-.+,1-., was used
by our group to compute for the focal length
of the lens for chromatic aberrations. Results
from the gathered data are the key factors that
will give the most possible value of the effect
being determined in the experiment.
II. Theory
The focal length of an optical system
is a measure of how strongly the system
converges or diverges light. For an optical
system in air, it is the distance over which
initially collimated rays are brought to a
focus. A system with a shorter focal length
has greater optical power than one with a long
focal length; that is, it bends the rays more
strongly, bringing them to a focus in a shorter
distance.
The thin lens equation is stated as
follows :

wherein :
do = the distance from the object to the center
of the lens
di = the distance (measured along the axis)
from the image to the center of the
lens
f = the focal length of the lens
Real images will be projected on a
screen placed at the image position.The image
distance di is positive for a real image. The
image would also be inverted because it is
formed behind the lens. Virtual images can
not be projected on a screen placed at the
image position.The image distance di is
negative for a virtual image. The image would
also be upright because it is formed in front of
the lens. As the object moves closer to the
focal point, the image size increases.
An aberration is any failure of a mirror
or lens to behave precisely. It can be classified
as chromatic aberrations, which involve
wavelength-dependent imaging behavior, or
mono-chromatic aberrations, which occur
even with monochromatic (single-wavelength) light. Lens aberrations are not caused
by faulty construction of the lens, such as
irregularities in its surfaces, but are inevitable
consequences of the laws of refraction at
spherical surfaces.
Chromatic aberrations are a result of
dispersion, the variation of index of refraction
with wavelength. Dispersion causes the focal
length of a lens to be somewhat different for
different
wavelengths,
so
different
wavelengths are imaged at different points.
The magnification of a lens also varies with
wave- length; this effect is responsible for the
rainbow-fringed
images
seen
with

inexpensive binoculars or telescopes. Mirrors

are inherently free of chromatic aberrations,
which is one of the reasons for their
usefulness in large astronomical telescopes.
Spherical aberration is the failure of
rays from a point object on the optic axis to
converge to a point image. Instead, the rays
converge within a circle of minimum radius,
called the circle of least confusion, and then
diverge again. The corresponding effect for
points off the optic axis produces images that
are comet-shaped figures rather than circles;
this is called coma. Note that decreasing the
size of the lens aperture cuts off the largerangle rays, thus decreasing spherical
aberration.
III. Methodology
Figure 1 : Experimental set-up for the determination of
the focal length of the convex lens

Figure 2 : Experimental set-up for characterizing the

image formed by a convex lens.

Figure 3 : Experimental set-up for the determination of

the
focal length using a lens with chromatic aberration

Figure 4 : Experimental set-up for the determination of

the
focal length using a lens with spherical aberration

In the first activity, the rays of the sun on a

very distant object was allowed to fall on the
lens. The screen was moved back and forth
until the clearest image is formed on the
screen. The distance from the lens to the
image was measured and recorded as
the focal length.
In

the second activity, the image is

characterized as to whether it is real or
virtual, inverted or upright, and
magnified or diminished, by placing
the convex lens away from the source
of light at a distance of more than
twice the focal length. The convex
lens was placed away from the source
of light exactly twice the focal length,
between one focal length and twice the
focal length, exactly one focal length,
and less than one focal length. In each
set-ups, the image was characterized
and the distances was recorded.

In the third activity, the focal length was

determined using the thin lens
equation in two situations. In the first
situation, the source of light was
replaced by a blue bulb and then a red
bulb. In each source of light, the
distance of the bulb from the lens and
the distance of the image from the lens
was measured. In the second situation,
light was allowed to pass only through
the edges of the convex lens by
covering its center with a circular
piece of black paper. The distances of
the bulb from the lens and the sharp
image from the lens was measured.
Afterwards, the light was allowed to
pass only through the center of the
lens by cutting a circular piece of
black paper having the same size as

the lens with a hole at the middle. The

distances of the bulb from the lens and
the sharp image from the lens was
also measured.
IV. Results and Discussion
Activity 1
Focal length of lens = 32cm.
We computed for the focal length by looking
at a very distant object, in our case, the trees
in the plaza mayor. We moved it back and
forth until we can see the clearest image
formed on the screen. We then measured the
distance from the lens to the image and
recorded it as the focal length.
Activity 2
Table 1. Image Formation by a Convex Lens
Object Distance
Type of Image
Formed
More than twice the
Inverted, real, smaller
focal length
Exactly twice the
Inverted, real, same
focal length
Between one focal
Inverted, real, bigger
length and twice the
focal length
Exactly one focal
Upright, virtual, same
length
size
Less than one focal
Upright, virtual,
length
bigger

Image
Distance(cm)
Focal
Length(cm)

63

86

31.5

32.4

Using the electric lamp with a blue/red bulb,

adjust the screen until the clearest image is
formed. Then, measure the distance of the
bulb from the lens as well as the distance of
the image from the lens. Use the focal length
of the lens formula 1/f = (1/p+1/q) to yield the
answer.
Activity 4-B
Table 2.2 Spherical Aberrations
Outer Zone Middle Zone
Uncovered
Uncovered
Object
53
58
Distance(cm)
Image
81.5
74.5
Distance(cm)
Focal
32.1
32.6
Length(cm)
Position the lens between the bulb and the
screen. Cover the middle zone of the lens
used in activity one such that light only passes
through the edges. Adjust the screen until you
get the clearest image formed. Repeat the
steps for the 2nd time around but covering the
edges of the circle. Compute for the focal
length using 1/f = (1/p + 1/q)

Source of light was placed in a single spot.

Then the zero mark end of the meter stick was
placed where the source of light is to be
found. Using the focal length that is obtained
from the 1st activity as the basis, different
types of images will be formed depending on
where you will place the object. Simply
follow the given distance and different images
will be formed. Repeating the process and
changing the distance will yield different
types of images just as the results that were
gained.

V. Conclusion

Activity 4-A
Table 2.1 Lens Aberrations Using Blue/Red
Bulb
Blue Bulb
Red Bulb
Object
63
52
Distance(cm)

The third activity was in two parts, chromatic

and
spherical
aberration.
Chromatic
aberration made use of the red and blue
filters. A lens will not focus different colors in
exactly the same place because the focal
length depends on refraction and the index of

In this experiment, three activities

were done for lens aberrations. The first
activity is to obtain the focal length of the
lens.
The second activity made use of the same
lens; with the use of a bulb and meter stick,
the image formed on the wall was determined
real or virtual, inverted or upright, magnified
or diminished in varied distances.

refraction for blue light (short wavelengths) is

larger than that of red light (long
wavelengths). The amount of chromatic
aberration depends on the dispersion of the
glass. Spherical aberration was done by
covering certain parts of the lens. For lens
with
spherical
aberration,
the
best
approximation to use for the focal length is
the distance at which the difference between
the paraxial and marginal rays is the smallest.
In the end of the activity, the focal length of a
converging lens was determined; the image
formed by a converging lens in different
distances was characterized, chromatic and
spherical aberrations were verified and the
image formation by combination of lenses
were characterized.
VI. Applications
1. Pinhole glasses are said to improve clarity
of vision, when the concept of principal focal
length is used, the presumption is that all
parallel rays focus at the same distance, which
is of course true only if there are no
aberrations. For a lens with spherical
aberration, the best approximation to use for
the focal length is the distance at which the
difference between the paraxial and marginal
rays is the smallest. It is not perfect, but the
departure from perfect focus forms what is
called the "circle of least confusion".
Spherical aberration is one of the reasons why
a smaller aperture on a camera lens will give a
sharper image and greater depth of field since
the difference between the paraxial and
marginal rays is less.
http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/aber.html#c1
2. To reduce fatigue, the focus (lens) of the
eyes must be shifted to a more distant object.
For example while reading a book, the lens in
the eyes must focus at a constant distance for
long periods of time, the muscle will become
strained, to reduce that, focus on far/near
objects to de-strain the muscles.
http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/aberrcon.html

3. The lens of the eye is a convex lens; the

normal eye forms an inverted image on the
retina.
Farsightedness or hyperopia is the inability of
the eye to focus on nearby objects. The
farsighted eye has no difficulty viewing
distant objects. But the ability to view nearby
objects requires a different lens shape.
Farsightedness can be corrected by the use of
a converging lens. Light refracts before
reaching the cornea and is subsequently
focused on the retina. Nearsightedness or
myopia is the inability of the eye to focus on
distant objects. The nearsighted eye has no
difficulty viewing nearby objects. But the
ability to view distant objects requires that the
light be refracted less. Nearsightedness can be
corrected by the use of a diverging lens. Light
diverges before reaching the cornea and is
then converged to a location on the retina.
VII. References
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/
Lesson-6/Farsightedness-and-its-Correction
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/
Lesson-6/Nearsightedness-and-its-Correction
http://dev.physicslab.org/Document.aspx?
doctype=3&filename=GeometricOptic
s_ThinLensEquation.xml
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfadd/1160/Ch24M
L/ImgLen.html
http://wps.aw.com/wps/media/objects/877/89
8586/topics/topic12.pdf

http://dev.physicslab.org/Document.aspx?
doctype=3&filename=GeometricOptic
s_ThinLensEquation.xml
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfadd/1160/Ch24M
L/ImgLen.html
http://wps.aw.com/wps/media/objects/877/89
8586/topics/topic12.pdf