CHAPTER

Lenses
We all are familiar with the use of lenses in our daily life through spectacles and other Chapter Objectives
resources. The shape of lenses is responsible for their applications in a particular area.
Lens
On the basis of shape mainly there are two types of lenses: convex and concave. In
this chapter, we will explore these two types of lenses with their related aspects. Refraction Through Equi-convex
Lens and Equi-concave Lens
Image
Lens Ray Diagram for Principal or
It is a transparent refracting medium bounded by two surfaces of which, one or both Construction Rays
surfaces are spherical. Image Formation of Lenses
Lens Formula
Lenses are of two types
Linear Magnification
(i) Convex or converging lens Power of a Lens
(ii) Concave or diverging lens Magnifying Glass or
Simple Microscope
(i) Convex or Converging Lens Applications of Lenses
A lens which is thicker at the centre and thinner at its end is called convex lens. It is
also known as converging lens because it converges a parallel beam of light rays
passing through it.
Convex lenses are of three types as shown below

(a) Double-convex lens (b) Plano-convex lens (c) Concave-convex lens

(a) A double-convex lens has two outward curving sides and is simply called convex
lens.
(b) The plano-convex lens is flat on one side and curved outward on the other side.
(c) The concave-convex lens has an inward curved from one side and has a more
outward curve on the other side in the same direction.
All inone Lenses 91

(ii) Concave or Diverging Lens Principal Axis

A lens which is thinner at the centre and thicker at its The imaginary line joining the two centre of curvature is called
ends is called a concave lens. It is also known as principal axis of lens. It also passes through the optical centre.
diverging lens because it diverges a parallel beam of Optical centre
light rays passing through it. Radius of
Centre of curvature
Concave lenses are of three types as shown below curvature R1
1
2 C1
C2 Principal
R2 axis

(a)
Optical centre
(a) Double-concave (b) Plano-concave (c) Convex-concave Radius of
Centre of curvature
lens lens lens
curvature R2
(a) A double-concave lens has two inward curving 1
C1 2 C2
sides and is simply called concave lens. R1 Principal
(b) Plano-concave lens has a flat surface and one axis
inward curving side. (b)

(c) Convex-concave lens has one outward curving

Principal Focus
side with one greater inward curving side in the
same direction. Rays of light can pass through any side of the lens in any
direction. Hence, there will be two principal foci on either
Some Definitions Related to Lenses side of the lens. They are referred to as the first principal
Some of definitions related to lenses are discussed as follow. focus and the second principal focus of a lens.
(i) First Principal Focus The point on the principal axis
Optical Centre such that the rays starting from this point (in convex
The centre point of a lens is known as its optical lens) or appearing to go towards this point (in concave
centre. It is a point of the lens, directed to which the lens), after refraction through the lens become parallel
incident rays refract without any deviation in the path. to the principal axis, is called first principal focus.

P P
R
C F1 O O F1
O O
Optical S S
R Optical
centre centre f1 f1
Optical centres of convex lens and concave lens First principal focus on convex and concave lenses
(ii) Second Principal Focus It is the point on the principal
Centres of Curvature axis at which the rays coming parallel to the principal
The centres of the two imaginary spheres of which the axis converge (in convex lens) or passing through it
lens is a part are called centres of curvature of the lens. appear to diverge (from concave lens) after refraction
A lens has two centres of curvature with respect to its from the lens.
two curved surfaces.

Radii of Curvature
The radii of the two imaginary spheres of which the lens O F2 F2 O
is a part are called radii of curvature of the lens. A lens
has two radii of curvature. These may or may not be
equal. f2 f2
Second principal focus on convex and concave lenses
Note A plane surface can be considered as to be a spherical surface
of infinite ratii of curvature. Both the foci of convex lens are real while that of
concave lens are virtual.
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Focal Length of Lens A prism has a tendency to bend a light ray towards its
The distance between the focus and optical centre of a base, on this basis converging and diverging action can be
lens is called focal length of lens. explained.
Note ● Focal length of a lens implies the second focal length.
● If the medium on both sides of the lens is same, the first and
second focal lengths are equal.
● Focal length of a lens depends on the refractive index of
material of lens.
● If a lens is placed in water instead of air, its focal length
increases.
● A thick lens has less focal length than a thin lens of same material.
Converging action of Diverging action of
Focal Plane convex lens concave lens
The plane passing through the focus and perpendicular to
the principal axis is called focal plane. Refraction Through
Aperture Equi-convex Lens and
The effective diameter of the circular outline of a
spherical lens is called its aperture.
Equi-concave Lens
Figure given below, shows the refraction of a ray of light
Refractive Axis at the two surfaces of an equi-convex lens and an
It is an imaginary axis, passing through the optical centre equi-concave lens.
and perpendicular to the principal axis of the lens. N1 R
Glass N1
R P Q
P Q N1
S
Air Air S
N2 R
N2 Focal N2
P Q
R point Focal
P Q
point
(a) Real path of ray (b) Path of ray as shown with N2
reference to refraction axis (a) convex lens (b) concave lens

It is clear from the figure, that a convex lens bends the ray
CHECK POINT 01 of light towards its middle i.e., it converges the light.
While a concave lens bends a ray of light towards its edges
1 What do you mean by concave-convex lens? (or away from its middle) i.e., it diverges the light.
2 Why and which lens is called diverging lens?
3 Define principal focus of convex lens.
4 What type of lens is an air bubble inside the water?
Image
5 Draw a diagram to represent the refractive and principal axis of The point where the rays meet or appear to meet after
a concave lens. refraction from the lens is called image of that point of
the object.
Converging and Diverging There are two types of images
Action of Lenses
The converging and diverging action of lenses can be Real Image
explained by considering a lens made up of large number If the rays from a point of an object after refraction
of different small angles prisms. through the lens actually meet at a point, the image
formed is called real image.
A converging lens can be supposed to be made up of a
Focal plane
number of prisms with the base of each prism towards
the centre of the lens.
A diverging lens can be supposed to be made up of a F2
number of prisms with the base of each prism away from
the centre of the lens.
f
Real Image
All inone Lenses 93

Virtual Image be coming from principal focus in case of concave lens.

If the rays from a point of an object after refraction
through the lens do not actually meet at a point, F1 F2 F1 F2
but they appear to diverge or converge from to a
point, the image formed is called virtual image.
Focal plane

(ii) Ray passing through or directed to the focus will emerge

parallel to the principal axis.

F2
F1 F2 F
2F1 F1 F2 2F2

f
Virtual Image
(iii) Ray directed to optical centre will emerge out undeviated.

Ray Diagram for Principal

or Construction Rays F1 F2 F1
F2

We can represent image formations by lenses using

ray diagrams. By drawing these diagrams, we can
determine the position, size and nature of the
image formed by a lens. The figures given below CHECK POINT 02
show the path through a concave lens and convex 1 How many times does a ray incident on a lens gets refracted after
lens separately each for the three principal rays being deviated from its path?
generally used for the construction of the ray 2 Write one difference between real and virtual image.
diagrams. 3 Draw a ray diagram to show a ray passing through the focus convex
lens.
(i) Rays which are parallel to the principal axis
4 Give the position from which a ray passes undeviated through optical
after refraction, will pass through principal centre of the lens.
focus in case of convex lens and will appear to 5 Which lens always forms a virtual of an object?

Image Formation of Lenses

Formation of Image by a Convex Lens
The table given below illustrates the ray diagrams along with the position and nature of an image, formed by convex lens
for various positions of an object.
Position of Object Ray Diagram Position of Image Nature and Size of Image

At infinity Real, inverted and extremely diminished

F1 O
At F2
2F1 F2 2F2

A
F2 B
Beyond 2F1 B
O
Between F2 and 2 F2
(at finite distance) 2F1 F1 2F2 Real, inverted and diminished
A
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Position of Object Ray Diagram Position of Image Nature and Size of Image

A
B F2 2F2
At 2F1 O B
At 2F2 Real, inverted and of same size as that
2F1 F1
of object
A

A
F2 B
Between F1 and 2 F1 2F1 B F1 O 2F2 Beyond 2F2 Real, inverted and magnified

A

A
F1 F2
At F1 O At infinity Real, inverted and highly magnified
B

A

A
Between lens and F1 On same side of the lens Virtual, erect and magnified
as the object
B F1 B O F2

Formation of Image by a Concave Lens

For studying the image formation by concave lens, there are only two positions of an object that are considered. Firstly, when the
object is at infinity and the second position is when the object is at finite distance from the lens. The table given below illustrates
the ray diagrams along with the position and nature of image, formed by concave lens for the above two positions of the object.
Position of Object Ray Diagram Position of Image Nature and Size of Image

At infinity At focus on same side of Virtual, erect and highly diminished

2F1 F1 O lens as object

A
A′ Between focus and Virtual, erect and diminished
O optical centre on the
At finite distance 2F1 B F1 B′ 2F2
F2 same side of lens
as object

To Differentiate Between a Convex and a Concave Lens

(i) By Touching If the lens is thick in the middle and thin at the edges, the lens is convex and if the lens is thin in the
middle and thick at the edges, the lens is concave.
(ii) By Seeing the Image
(a) On keeping the lens near a printed page, if letters appear magnified, the lens is convex and if the letters appear
diminished, the lens is concave.
(b) On seeing a distant object through the lens, if its inverted image is seen, the lens is convex and if the upright
image is seen, the lens is concave.
All inone Lenses 95

Sol. Given, focal length, f = 0.2 m

Lens Formula Image distance, v = − 0.3 m
It is a relation between focal length of a lens and distance Object distance, u = ?
of object and image from optical centre of the lens. According to lens formula,
1
1 1 1
− = 
1 1 1
= −  − 1 = − 0.5
If u = object distance, v = image distance and f = focal length, v u f u v f − 0.3 0.2 0.06
then u=
− 0.06
1 1 1
= − 0.5
f v u Object distance, u = − 0.12 m

This is called the lens formula. Example 2. A concave lens has a focal length 15 cm.
At what distance should an object be placed from the
Linear Magnification lens so that it forms an image at 10 cm from the lens?
What is the nature of the image?
The ratio of height of image to the height of object is Sol. Given, focal length, f = − 15 cm
called linear magnification (m). Image distance, v = − 10 cm
Object distance, u = ?
hi v 1 1 1
Linear magnification, m= or m = According to lens formula, − =
ho u v u f
1 1 1
i.e., − =
It is positive, when image formed is virtual and is −10 u −15
negative, when image formed is real. 1 −1 1 −1  u = − 30 cm
 = + =
u 10 15 30
Sign Convention for Spherical Lenses As, it is a concave lens, the image is virtual erect and
diminished.
To derive the relevant formulae for refraction by spherical
lenses, we must first adopt a sign convention for Example 3. A 5 cm tall object is placed
measuring distances. perpendicular to the principal axis of a convex lens of
Height Lens focal length 20 cm. The distance of the object from
upwards Direction of lens is 30 cm. Determine the
positive incident light
(i) position (ii) nature
(u negative)
O (optical centre) Principal axis (iii) size of image formed.
Distances Distances in the Sol. Given, object size, ho = 5 cm
Height against
direction of incident Object distance, u = − 30 cm
downwards incident light light (v positive)
negative (v negative) Focal length, f = + 20 cm
1 1 1
Using lens formula, − =
According to the cartesian sign convention, v u f
1 1 1 1 1
(i) all the distances are measured from the optical centre  = +  =− + 1 = 1  v = 60 cm
(O) of the lens. v u f v 30 20 60
h v
(ii) the principal axis of the lens is taken as X-axis and Since, magnification, m = i =
the optical centre as origin. ho u
hi 60
 m= =  hi = −10 cm
(iii) distances measured in the direction of the incident 5 − 30
light are taken as positive and opposite to the Therefore, the image is real, inverted and magnified.
direction of incident light as negative.
(iv) the heights measured upwards with respect to X-axis Power of a Lens
and normal to the principal axis of the mirror or lens
The ability of a lens to deviate light rays towards or away
are taken as positive and the heights measured
from its principal axis is called power of lens. It is defined as
downwards are taken as negative.
the reciprocal of the focal length in metres. It is expressed as
1
Example 1. A convergent beam of light passes Power, P =
through the diverging lens of focal length 0.2 m and f (in metre)
comes to focus 0.3 m behind the lens. Find the Its SI unit is dioptre (D). The power of convex lens is
position of the point at which the beam would
positive and that of concave lens is negative.
converge in the absence of the lens.
 96 All inone ICSE Physics Class X

If many thin lenses are in contact with each other, then the Magnified and erect image A  B is formed atleast distance
total power is the algebraic sum of powers of individual of distinct vision (D) from O. The magnifying power of
lenses. the microscope is defined as the ratio of the B OA 
i.e., P = P1 + P2 + P3 + ... subtended by the image A  B at the eye to the A  OA 
subtended by AB at the eye.
Example 4. Calculate the power of a convex lens
It is expressed as
having the focal length of 50 cm.
A  B
Sol. Given, focal length, f = 50 cm = 0.5 m m=
Power, P =
1
= 1 = 2D AB
Focal length 0.5
Applications of Lenses
Magnifying Glass or Some of applications of lenses are discussed as follows
Simple Microscope (i) We usually use spectacles when our eyesight
Principle weakens. They either consist of convex lens or
It is based on the principle that when an object is placed concave lens or both.
between the first principal focus and the optical centre of A person suffering from long sightedness, i.e.,
a convex lens, it forms an erect, virtual and enlarged hypermetropia, use convex lens while a person
image on the same side of the object. suffering from short sightedness, i.e., myopia, uses
concave lens.
Holder
(ii) They are used in a spectroscope which uses convex
lens for obtaining pure spectrum.
Frame (iii) In telescope, camera, slide projector, etc, convex lens
Lens is used which forms a real and inverted image of
Magnifying glass (or simple microscope)
an object.
Construction (iv) In galilean telescope, a concave lens is used as
Magnifying glass is a kind of convex lens of short focal an eyelens to obtain an erect final image of the
length mounted in a metallic frame with a holder. object.
(v) Convex lens of short focal length fitted in a steel
Way of Using the Microscope frame with a handle, is used as a magnifying glass.
The lens is placed near the eye and the object is at such a Note ● In order to photograph a distant object, the lens is moved
distance from the lens such that the image is formed at the closer to the film and for near object, the lens is moved away
least distance of distinct vision (D) = 25 cm from the lens. ●
from the film. This adjustment of the lens is called focussing.
The maximum variation in the power of the lens for focussing
Note The minimum distance, at which an object can be seen most near or far objects clearly at retina is called power of
distinctly without any strain is called the least distance of distinct accomodation.
vision (D). For a healthy normal eye of an adult, it is 25 cm. ● The time for which impression or sensation of an object
continues in the eye is called persistance of vision. It is about
(1/16)th of a second.
Ray Diagram and Magnification
Consider a ray diagram for location of image (A  B) of an CHECK POINT 03
object (AB) due to a simple microscope. The object AB is
placed between focus F1 and optical centre O of the lens. 1 Name the lens which acts as magnifying glass.
B 2 Which type of lens produce
(i) diminished neutral image
(ii) magnified vertical image?
A B
3 What is the minimum distance between an object and its real
O image formed by a convex lens?
A F1 A F2 4 What happens to the image formed by a convex lens if its lower
C part is blackened?
D
5 Two lens of power – 3 D and + 2.5 D are placed in contact. Find
Ray diagram for location of image and the total power of combination of Lens. Calculate the focal
magnification length of this combination.
All inone Lenses 97

SUMMARY
■
Lens is a transparent medium bounded by two surfaces in which, one or both surfaces are spherical.
■
Convex lens is a lens which is thicker at the centre and thinner at its end.
■
Concave lens is a lens which is thinner at the centre and thicker at its end.
■
The centre point of a lens is known as its optical centre.
■
The centre of the two imaginary spheres of which the lens is a part is known as centre of curvature of lens.
■
The radii of the two imaginary spheres of which the lens is a part are called radii of curvature of lens.
■
The imaginary line joining the two centres of curvature is called principal axis of lens.
■
The distance between focus and optical centre of a lens is known as focal length of lens.
■
The plane passing through the focus and perpendicular to the principal axis is known as focal plane.
■
The effective diameter of the circular outline of a spherical lens is known as aperture of lens.
■
An imaginary axis, passing through the optical centre and perpendicular to the principal axis of the lens is called refractive axis.
■
The converging and diverging action of lenses can be explained by considering a lens made up of large number of different small angled
prisms.
■
Image formation by convex lens for different positions of object

Position of Object Position of Image Relative Size of Image Nature of Image

At infinity At focus F2 Highly diminished, point-sized Real and inverted
Beyond 2F1 Between F2 and 2F2 Diminished Real and inverted
At 2F1 At 2F2 Same size Real and inverted
Between focus F1 and 2F1 Beyond 2F2 Enlarged Real and inverted
At focus F1 At infinity Highly magnified Real and inverted
Between focus F1 and optical On the same side of the lens as the Enlarged Virtual and erect
centre O. object
■
Image formation by concave lens for different positions of object

Position of Object Position of the Image Relative Size of Image Nature of Image
At infinity At focus F1 Highly diminished, point-sized Virtual and erect
At finite distance Between focus F1 and optical Diminished Virtual and erect
centre O
■
Lens Formula
1 1 1
It is given by, − =
v u f
where, v = distance of image from the optical centre of lens,
u = distance of object from the optical centre of lens
and f = focal length of lens.
■
Linear Magnification
Height of image (hi ) Image distance (v)
m= or m =
Height of object (ho ) Object distance (u)
If m is positive, image is virtual and if m is negative, image is real.
■
The ability of a lens to converge or diverge light rays is known as power of lens. It is denoted by P.
■
The SI unit of power is dioptre (D).
100
Power, P =
Focal length f (in cm)
■
For concave lens, power and focal length are negative.
For convex lens, power and focal length are positive.
■
Magnifying glass is a kind of convex lens of short focal length mounted in a metallic frame with a holder.