PHY-123 Geometrical Optics LEC-2

PHY-123
GEOMETRICAL OPTICS
LEC-2
CARDINAL POINTS OF AN OPTICAL SYSTEM
In the case of refraction through a thin lens, the thickness of the lens has been
neglected in calculating the various formula. It is immaterial from which point of
the lens the distances are measured.
But in the case of a thick lens or in a combination of two lenses separated by a

finite distance, we can’t proceed with this assumption.
To overcome this difficulty, Gauss in 1841 proved that any number of co-axial
refracting systems can be treated as one unit and the simple formulae for thin
lenses can be applied provided the distances are measured from two theoretical
parallel planes fixed with reference to the refracting system.
The points of intersection of these planes with the axis are called the principal or
gauss points. Actually there are six points in all viz. the two principal foci(focal
points), two principal points and two nodal points which are important in the case
of refraction through a thick lens or in a system of co-axial lenses. These six
points are known as cardinal points of an optical system.
CARDINAL POINTS
❑ Two Principal focal points
❑ Two Principal Planes
❑ Two Nodal Points
Principal Focal Points

Considering an optical system consists of a
thick lens or a number of co-axial lenses either
in contact or separated by an appreciable
distance and having its axis AA’.
A set of rays incident on the system parallel to
the axis, after refraction converge to
(converging system) or appear to diverge from
(converging system) a point F2 on the axis.
This point F2 is called the second principal
focus and is the position of the image
corresponding to the axial point-object at
infinity as shown in above Fig.
Principal Focal Points
Similarly if the rays starting from (converging system) or directed towards

(diverging system) an axial point F1 after refraction through the system,
become parallel to the axis then this point F1 is called the first principal
focus and corresponds to the image distance at infinity.
These two points F1 and F2 are called the Principal foci or focal points
and the planes passing through the principal foci perpendicular to the
axis are called focal planes.
Principal Points and Principal Planes
There are two principal planes and two principal points. The first principal
plane in the object space is the locus of the points of intersection of the
emergent rays in the image–space parallel to the axis and their conjugate
incident rays in the object-space.
The second principal plane in the image-space is the locus of the points
of intersection of the incident rays in the object-space parallel to the axis
and their conjugate emergent rays in the image space.
Consider a thick lens or a coaxial refracting system, having its principal

foci F1 and F2. The ray incident at the point Q and parallel to the axis,
after refraction through the lens takes the direction RF2 passing through
the second principal focus F2. The incident and the emergent rays, when
produced intersect at H2.
A plane passing through H2 and perpendicular to the axis is termed as
the second principal plane of the lens. Its point of intersection P2 with the
axis is called the second principal point.
Consider another ray F1S passing through the first principal focus F1
such that after refraction it emerges along TW parallel to the axis at the
same height as that of the ray incident at Q.
The rays F1S and TW, when produced intersection at H1. A plane
perpendicular to the axis and passing through H1 is called the first
principal plane and its point of intersection P1 with the axis is called the
first principal point.
NODAL POINTS
Nodal points are defined as a pair of conjugate points on the axis having
unit positive angular magnification.
This simply means that a ray of light directed towards one of these
points, after refraction through the optical system, appears to proceed
from the second point in a parallel direction.
Let H1P1 and H2P2 be the first and the second principal planes of an optical
system and let AF1 and BF2 be its first and second focal planes respectively.
Consider a point A situated on the first focal plane. From A draw a ray AH1
parallel to the axis. The conjugate ray will produced from H2 a point in the
second principal plane such that H2P2 = H1P1 and will pass through the
second focus F2.
NODAL POINTS
Take another ray AT1 parallel to the emergent ray H2F2 and striking the first
principal plane at T1. It will emerge out from T2, a point on the second
principal plane such that T2P2 = T1P1 and will proceed parallel to the ray
H2F2 as the two rays originate at A, a point on first focal plane.
Then the points of intersection of the incident ray AT1 and the conjugate
emergent ray T2R with the axis give the position of the two nodal points.
It is clear that the two points N1 and N2 are a pair of conjugate points and the
incident ray AN1 is parallel to the conjugate emergent ray T2R.
Moreover tan α1= tan α2
NODAL POINTS
In the right angled ∆s T1P1N1 and T2P2N2, T 1P 1 = T 2P 2

<T1N1P1= <T2N2P2 = α
Here the two ∆s are congruent.
P 1N 1= P 2N 2
Adding N1P2 to both sides
P1N1+N1P2 = P2N2+N1P2
P 1P 2 = N 1N 2
The distance between the principal points N1 and N2 is
equal to the distance between the principal points P1
and P2.
NODAL POINTS
Now consider the two right angled ∆s

AF1N1 and H2P2F2
AF1= H2P2
and <AN1F1= <H2F2P2
Hence the two ∆s are congruent.

F1N1=P2F2
Or F1P1+P1N1 =P2F2
Or P1N1 =P2F2 - F1P1
Now, P1N1 = P2N2
P2F2 = +f2 and P1F1=-f1
So P1N1 = P2N2 = (f1 + f2)
If the medium on both the sides of the system is optically similar,
f2 = -f1
So, P1N1 = P2N2 = 0
It means the principal points coincide with the nodal points when the optical
system is situated in the same medium.
The planes passing through the nodal points and perpendicular to the axis are termed as nodal
planes.
Example 2.7: Two thin convex lenses having focal lengths 5 cm and 2
cm are co-axial and separated by a distance of 3 cm. Find the equivalent
focal length and the position of the principal points.
Example 2.8: Two thin convex lenses of focal lengths, 20 cm and 5 cm

are placed 10 cm apart. Calculate the positions of the principal points of
this combination.
Example 2.15: A thin converging lens and a thin diverging lens are
placed coaxially in air at a distance of 5 cm. If the focal length of each
lens is 10 cm, find for the combination:
(a)The focal length
(b)The power and
(c)Position of the principal points.

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PHY-123 Geometrical Optics LEC-2

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PHY-123

But in the case of a thick lens or in a combination of two lenses separated by a

❑ Two Nodal Points

Principal Focal Points

Similarly if the rays starting from (converging system) or directed towards

Consider a thick lens or a coaxial refracting system, having its principal

In the right angled ∆s T1P1N1 and T2P2N2, T 1P 1 = T 2P 2

Now consider the two right angled ∆s

Hence the two ∆s are congruent.

Example 2.8: Two thin convex lenses of focal lengths, 20 cm and 5 cm

(b)The power and

(c)Position of the principal points.

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