Physics 121.

6 2007/2008
Assignment 17 - Solutions
1. Chapter 36, Problem 12. A certain Christmas tree ornament is a silver sphere having
diameter 8.50 cm. Determine an object location for which the size of the reflected
image is three-fourths the object’s size. Use a principal-ray diagram to arrive at a
description of the image.

Solution:
The focal length on the convex mirror formed by the
ornament is
R d 8.50 cm
f =− =− =− = −2.125 cm . R
2 4 4
The image formed by a convex mirror is always upright.
Therefore the lateral magnification is, m = + 34 . d
q
m = − ⇒ q = − mp
p
Then from,
1 1 1 1 1 1⎛ 1⎞
= + = − = ⎜1 − ⎟
f p q p mp p ⎝ m ⎠
⎛ 1⎞
⇒ p = f ⎜1 − ⎟ = (−2.125 cm)(1 − 43 ) = (−2.125 cm)(− 13 ) = 0.708 cm
⎝ m⎠
Thus the object needs to be 7.08 mm away from the ornament’s surface.
Principal-ray diagram:
Surface

Object Image F C

Therefore we have an upright, virtual image that is reduced in size.

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Assignment 17 - Solutions

2. Chapter 36, Problem 20. A flint glass plate (n = 1.66) rests on the bottom of an
aquarium tank. The plate is 8.00 cm thick (vertical dimension) and is covered with a
layer of water (n = 1.33) 12.0 cm deep. Calculate the apparent thickness of the plate
as viewed from straight above the water.

Solution:
n1 n2 (n2 − n1 ) Air
From + = with R → ∞
p q R n=1
n qtop
q = − 2 p. Water q2 p2 dw
n1 n2 = 1.33
The image of the bottom surface of the flint glass
plate through the glass/water interface is at Flint glass q1 p1 dg
n n n1 = 1.66
q1 = − 2 p1 = − 2 d g
n1 n1
1.33
=− 8.00 cm = −6.41 cm
1.66
This becomes the object for the water/air interface.
Thus p2 = d w − q1 = 12.0 cm − (−6.41 cm) = 18.41 cm
1 1
q 2 = − p2 = − 18.41 cm = −13.84 cm
n1 1.33
Thus the bottom surface of the flint glass plate appears 13.84 cm below the water’s
surface.
The image of the top of the flint glass plate through the water/air interface is at
1 1
qtop = − d w = − 12.0 cm = −9.02 cm
n2 1.33
Thus the top surface of the flint glass plate appears 9.02 cm below the water’s surface.
Therefore the apparent thickness of the plate is 13.84 cm − 9.02 cm = 4.82 cm.

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Assignment 17 - Solutions

3. A frog sitting 40 cm from a converging lens of focal length 20 cm hops out to 1.00 m
away from the lens. As it makes this hop the distance of the image of the frog from
the lens changes
(A) from 40 cm to 1.00 m.
(B) from 40 cm to 25 cm.
(C) from 20 cm to 40 cm.
(D) from 40 cm to 20 cm.
(E) from 20 cm to 12 cm.

Solution:
Original object distance is p1 = 40 cm, so
original image distance q1 is:
q2
1 1 1 1 1
= − = − ⇒ q1 = 40 cm
q1 f p1 20 cm 40 cm p1
After frog jumps, p2 = 100 cm, so image p2 q1
distance q2 is now:
1 1 1 1 1
= − = − ⇒ q2 = 25 cm
q2 f p2 20 cm 100 cm
So answer is B

4. Chapter 36, Problem 28. A contact lens is made of plastic with an index of
refraction of 1.50. The lens has an outer radius of curvature of +2.00 cm and an inner
radius of curvature of +2.50 cm. What is the focal length of the lens?

Solution:
From the Lens Maker’s equation:
1 ⎡1 1⎤
= (n − 1) ⎢ − ⎥ R2
f ⎣ R1 R2 ⎦
R1
⎡ 1 1 ⎤
= (1.50 − 1) ⎢ −
⎣ 2.00 cm 2.50 cm ⎥⎦
= 0.0500 cm −1
⇒ f = 20.0 cm

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Assignment 17 - Solutions

5. Chapter 36, Problem 30. An object located 32.0 cm in front of a lens forms an
image on a screen 8.00 cm behind the lens. (a) Find the focal length of the lens. (b)
Determine the magnification. (c) Is the lens converging or diverging?

Solution:
(a) p = 32.0 cm, q = 8.00 cm
1 1 1 1 1
⇒ = + = + ⇒ f = 6.40 cm
f p q 32.0 cm 8.00 cm
q 8.00 cm
(b) M = − = − = −0.250
p 32.0 cm
(c) Since f > 0, the lens is a converging lens.

6. Chapter 36, Problem 36. An antelope is at a distance of 20.0 m from a converging

lens of focal length 30.0 cm. The lens forms an image of the animal. If the antelope
runs away from the lens at a speed of 5.00 m/s, how fast does the image move? Does
the image move toward or away from the lens?

Solution:
We need to find the relationship between the velocity of the antelope,
dp
vA = , where p is the object distance, and the velocity of the animal’s image,
dt
dq
vI = , where q is the image distance.
dt
Since;
1 1 1
= +
f p q
⇒ q −1 = f −1 − p −1
⇒ q = ( f −1 − p −1 ) −1
Differentiating (noting that f is a constant):
dq dp
= −1( f −1 − p −1 ) − 2 (0 − (−1 p − 2 ))
dt dt
−2 −1 −1 − 2
vI = − p ( f − p ) v A
Putting in the numbers:
vI = −(20.0 m) −2 ((0.300 m)-1 − (20.0 m)-1 ) −2 (5.00 m/s)
= −1.15 × 10-3 m/s
Since this is negative, q is decreasing.
Therefore speed of image is 1.15 mm/s towards the lens.

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Assignment 17 - Solutions

Alternative Solution:
Starting from q −1 = f −1 − p −1 and differentiating with respect to time:
dq dp
− q−2 = 0 − (− p − 2 )
dt dt
2
q
⇒ vI = − 2 v A
p
1 1 1 1 1
Calculate q from = − = − ⇒ q = 0.3046 m
q f p (0.300 m) (20.0 m)
Then:
(0.3046 m)2
vI = − 2
(5.00 m/s) = −1.15 × 10 − 3 m /s.
(20.0 m)
7. If a human eye, simply modeled, has a power of about 59 diopters, its focal length is
about
(A) +17 mm.
(B) −5.9 m.
(C) +5.9 mm.
(D) +17 m.
(E) −17 mm.

Solution:
1 1 1
Power(diopters) = . Therefore f = = = 0.017 m = 17 mm .
f (m) 59 diopter 59 m −1
(Positive as expected since the eye is a converging lens.)
Answer A.

8. Chapter 36, Problem 44. The accommodation limits for Nearsighted Nick’s eyes are
18.0 cm and 80.0 cm. When he wears his glasses, he can see faraway objects clearly.
At what minimum distance is he able to see objects clearly?

Solution:
With his glasses on, Nick sees a virtual image of a faraway object at his far point
(80.0 cm).
i.e. for p = ∞, q = −80.0 cm. Therefore
1 1 1 1 1
= + = + ⇒ f = −80.0 cm
f p q ∞ − 80.0 cm
At the minimum distance he can see objects clearly, pmin, the virtual image is formed at
his near point, i.e. for p = pmin, q = −18.0 cm.
1 1 1 1 1
= − = −
pmin f q − 80.0 cm − 18.0 cm
⇒ pmin = 23.2 cm

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Assignment 17 - Solutions

9. Chapter 36, Problem 56. The object in Figure P36.56

is midway between the lens and the mirror. The
mirror’s radius of curvature is 20.0 cm, and the lens has
focal length of –16.7 cm. Considering only the light
that leaves the object and travels first toward the
mirror, locate the final image formed by this system. Is
this image real or virtual? Is it upright or inverted?
What is the overall magnification?

Solution:
First find the image formed by the mirror ignoring the lens.
Mirror’s focal length is f1 = + R 2 = + 20.0 cm 2 = +10.0 cm .
Let the distance between mirror and lens be d = 25.0 cm.
So p1 = d / 2 = 25.0 cm / 2 = 12.5 cm .
1 1 1 1 1
= − = − ⇒ q1 = 50.0 cm
q1 f1 p1 + 10.0 cm 12.5 cm
q 50.0 cm
Mirror lateral magnification is M 1 = − 1 = − = −4.00
p1 12.5 cm
This image becomes a virtual object for the lens, f 2 = −16.7 cm .
p2 = −(q1 − d ) = d − q1 = 25.0 cm − 50.0 cm = −25.0 cm .
1 1 1 1 1
= − = − ⇒ q2 = −50.3 cm .
q2 f 2 p2 − 16.7 cm − 25.0 cm
q − 50.3 cm
Lens lateral magnification is M 2 = − 2 = − = −2.01
p2 − 25.0 cm
Thus overall magnification is M = M 1M 2 = (−4.00)(−2.01) = +8.05 .
Therefore an observer would see an upright, enlarged image 50.3 cm behind the lens, or
25.3 cm to the right of the mirror.
Lens Mirror

q1 p1
Image from Object
mirror
F2 F1 F2 Final image

p2 d

q2

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Assignment 17 - Solutions

10. Which cannot be formed by a converging lens of focal length f? An image that is
(A) real, inverted and smaller than the object.
(B) virtual, right-side up and larger than the object.
(C) upside down, larger than the object and a distance from the lens greater
than 2f.
(D) real, inverted and the same size as the object.
(E) upside down, smaller than the object and a distance from the lens greater
than 2f.

Solution:
−q
For a virtual image q < 0. So the lateral magnification M = > 0 for a real object. Thus
p
a virtual image can never be inverted. Thus (B) is impossible.
((A), (C) and (D) are all possible.)
In addition let us consider (E).
If the image is upside down then M is negative. Also since the image is smaller than the
object then −M < 1.
−q −q
Therefore since M = ⇒ p=
p M
1 1 1
Then from = +
f p q
1 −M 1 1
= + = (1 − M )
f q q q
⇒ q = f (1 − M )
Since −M <1, that implies that q < 2f.
So (E) is also impossible.

Thus there are two correct answers: B or E. (Oops!)

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