Lens

A lens is defined as a portion of a transparent optical material, having one or two

spherical surfaces. From the above statement, it is clear that a lens can either have one
spherical surface and one plane surface or it can have two spherical surfaces.
Lenses are divided into two broad classes:
(a) Converging lens or convex lens.
(b) Diverging lens or concave lens.
(a) Converging lens or Convex lens
A piece of transparent optical material, having one or two spherical surfaces, such that it
is thicker in the middle and tapering (thinner) at the edges is called convex lens or
converging lens.
(b) Diverging lens or Concave lens
A piece of transparent optical material,
having one or two spherical surfaces,
such that it is tapering (thinner) in the
middle and thicker at its edges, is called
concave lens or diverging lens.

Image Formation by Lenses using Ray

Diagrams in convex lens
1. A ray of light travelling parallel to the principal axis, after refraction through the ray
of light passes through the second principal focus of the lens.
2. A ray of light which first passes through the first principal focus of the convex lens,
after refraction the ray of light travels parallel to the principal axis.
3. A ray of light which passes through the optical centre of a convex lens does not suffer
any refraction, i-e., it passes through the lens without
Construction of Images in Convex Lens by Ray Diagrams

(a) When the object is at infinity, such that the rays coming from it, are parallel to the
principal axis of the convex lens.

Following are the characteristics of the image formed:

(1) The image is real.
(2) The image is inverted.
(3) The image is diminished to a point.
(4) The image is formed at F2 on the other side of the lens.

(b) When the object is beyond 2Fp but not at infinity.

(1) The image is real.

(2) The image is inverted.
(3) The image is diminished.
(4) The image is formed between F2 and 2F2 on the other side of the lens.
Rules for drawing images in concave lens
1. A ray of light travelling parallel to the principal axis of a concave lens, after
refraction, appears to come from its first principal focus.
2. A ray of light initially travelling along the direction of the second principal focus,
after refraction, travels parallel to the principal axis of the concave lens
3. A ray of light which passes through the optical centre of a concave lens does not
suffer any refraction, i.e., it passes through the lens without any deviation.

Construction of Images in Concave Lens by Ray Diagrams

(a) When the object is located at infinity.
The rays coming from an object it infinity are always parallel. When these parallel rays
pass through a concave lens, they get refracted and form a diverging beam. This beam of
light on reaching the eye appears to come from F1 of the concave lens, thereby forming a
virtual image.
Following are the characteristics of the
image formed:
1. The image is virtual.
2. The image is erect.
3. The image is diminished to a point.
4. The image is formed at F1 on the same
side as the object.
Important points for Measuring Distances for Convex/Concave Lens
(a) A convex lens when a real image is formed.
(i) The distance of the object from the optical centre (u) is always negative. (ii) The
distance of the image from the optical centre (v) is always -positive. (in) The focal length
of the lens is always positive.
(b) A convex lens when a virtual image is formed.
(i) The distance of the object from the optical centre (u) is always negative. (ii) The
distance of the image from the optical centre (v) is always negative. (iii) The focal length
of the lens (/) is always positive.
(c) Concave lens
(i) The distance of the object from the optical centre (u) is always negative. (ii) The
distance of the image from the optical centre (v) is always negative. (iii) The distance of
the focal length of the lens (/) is always negative.
Lens formula
A formula which gives a relationship between the distance of object from the optical
centre (𝑑𝑜 ), distance of image from optical centre (𝑑𝑖 ) and the focal length of the lens (f)
is called lens formula. The lens formula for convex and concave lenses is same as stated
1 1 1
below.  
do di f
Derivation of the above formula is deleted from the syllabus.
Important Points in using Lens Formula
(i) Put the correct signs of known variables according to the sign conventions.
(ii) Do not put the sign of unknown variable. The sign will automatically show up
during calculations.
(iii) If the calculated sign of a variable turns out positive, then the variable calculated is
on the other side of the lens, i.e., on the opposite side to the object. However, if
calculated variable is of negative sign, then it is on the same side as the object.
Linear Magnification Produced by Lenses
The ratio between the height of the image produced by a lens to the height of the object is
called the linear magnification.

While using above formulae, use conventional signs for v and u.

Points to Remember
In case of convex lens, the magnification m is positive, when image is virtual, and it is
negative when image is real. In case of concave lens, m is always positive, as the image
formed is always virtual.
Numerical Problems on Lenses
Numerical Problem 1
A convex lens produces a real and inverted image 2.5 times magnified at a distance of 25
cm from the lens. Calculate focal length of the lens.
Solution:
Magnification (m) - -2.5 (real image)
Distance of the image from the lens (𝑑𝑖 ) = 25cm.
Distance of the object from the lens (𝑑𝑜 ) =? (to be calculated)
Focal length of the lens (f) =? (to be calculated)

𝒅𝒊 𝟐𝟓
𝒎= → −𝟐. 𝟓 =
𝒅𝒐 𝒅𝒐
𝟐𝟓
𝒅𝒐 = = −𝟏𝟎cm
−𝟐.𝟓

Thus, the focal length of the lens is 7.14 cm.

Practice Problems: 1
1. An object when placed in front of a convex lens forms a real image of 0.5
magnifications. If the distance of the image from the lens is 24 cm, calculate the focal
length of the lens. [f = 16 cm]
2. A convex lens forms a real image magnified four times, when placed at a distance of
6cm from the lens. Calculate the focal length of the lens.
[f = 1.2 cm]
POWER OF A LENS
Power of a lens is a measure of degree of convergence or divergence of light rays
incident on it. In other words, it is the ability of a lens to bend the rays of light incident on
it. Mathematically, it is defined as follows:
The reciprocal of focal length in metres is called power of a lens.

Thus, power of a lens =

Focal length of the lens (m metres)

However, if the focal length is given in centimetres, then the above formula can be
modified as under

Advantages in Using Power of Lenses

it makes the calculations very convenient and straight forward.
For example, an optician while testing eye sight, places a convex lens of power + 2D in
front of the eye of the patient. However, vision is not clear. He, then places another
convex lens of power + 0.5 D in contact with first lens, when the vision becomes clear.
Thus, optician immediately knows that power of the lens suitable for his patient, is +2.50
D. Such simple calculations are not possible, if the optician uses focal length of lenses.
Points to Remember
 A lens whose focal length is 1m has a power of one dioptre.
 The power of convex lens is positive and that of concave lens negative.
 The power of lens is a measure of its degree of convergence or divergence.
 With the increase power of lens its focal length decreases and vice versa.
 Opticians can design a lens of particular power by combining two or more lens of
appropriate power.
 The spectacle lens made by combining two or more lenses are free from defects of
astigmatism which cause distortion.
Numerical Problem 2
An eye specialist prescribes a number + 4-5 D to a person for his glasses. What is the
nature of the lens? What is the focal length of the lens?

Practice Problems: 2
1. State the nature of the lens and the focal length if its power is + 4D.
[(i) convex, (ii) 25 cm]
2. The number of the glasses of a person is + 0-75 D. What is the nature of the lens and
what is its focal length? [(i) convex, (ii) 133-33 cm]
Numerical Problem 3
The focal length of the glasses of a short-sighted person is 37.5 cm. Calculate the power
of the glasses and their nature.
Solution: As the person is short-sighted, the lens of his glasses is concave.

Minus sign indicates that the lens is concave in nature.

Practice Problems 3
1. The focal length of a concave lens is 10cm. Calculate its power. [10 D]
2. The focal length of the lens of a myopic person is 40cm. What is the power of the
lens? [- 2.5 D]
Numerical Problem 4
The power of the lens of a myopic person is – 3.75D. Calculate the focal length of the lens.
Solution:
Power - 3.75 D indicates that lens is concave.

Practice Problems 4
1. Calculate the focal length of a lens of power - 2.75 D. [- 36.36 cm]
2. The power of a concave lens is - 12.5 D. What is the focal length of the lens?[- 8 cm]
Numerical Problem 5
Two thin lenses of power + 2.5 D and -1.5 D are placed in contact with each other.
Calculate: (i) power of the combination, (ii) focal length of the combination.
Solution
Practice Problems 5
1. Two thin lenses of power + 4.5 D and -5D are placed in contact with each other.
Calculate: (i) power of the combination, (ii) focal length of the combination.
[(i) - 0.5 D (ii) 2 m]
2. The power of a thin convex lens is + 3.5 D. It is placed in contact with another thin
lens, such that the combined power is + 1.0 D. Calculate: (i) power of second lens, (ii)
focal length of the second lens. [(i) -2.5 D (ii) 0.4 m]
Numerical Problem 6
A convex lens of focal length 40 cm and a concave lens of focal length 50 cm are placed
in contact with each other. Calculate: (i) the power of the combination, (ii) focal length of
the combination.

1 (m)
 Focal length of the combination F 
Power of combination

1 ( m)
  2 m.
0.5
Practice Problems: 6
1. Calculate the power and focal length of a combination of convex lens of focal length
25 cm and concave lens of focal length 10cm. [(i) - 10D, (ii)
0.10 m]
2. A convex lens of focal length 40 cm is placed in contact with concave lens of focal
length 25cm. Calculate (i) power of the combination (ii) focal length of the
combination. [(i) - 1.5D, (ii) 0.666m]
3. EXERCISE
4.

5. (I) MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

6. 1- You have blindfolded your friend and then gave him a lens for recognition. He
moves his fingers on the lens and declares it convex lens, because:
7. (A) it has tapering edges (B) it is thicker in the middle
8. (C) both (A) and (B) (D) none of the above.
9. 2. When a newspaper is seen through a lens, its print appears smaller. The nature of
the lens is:
10. (A) convex (B) concave (C) double convex (D) concavo-convex
11. 3. A converging beam of light on striking a concave lens, appears to converge at a
point on the principal axis. The point is called:
12. (A) optical centre of lens (B) first principal focus of lens
13. (C) second principal focus of lens (D) none of the above.
14. 4. An object is at infinity with respect to the optical centre of a converging lens. The
image formed by it is:
15. (A) diminished and erect (B) diminished
16. (C) diminished to a point and inverted (D) magnified and erect.
17. 5. Which of the following statements is true?
18. (A) A convex lens has 4 dioptre power having a focal length 0.25m
19. (B) A convex lens has -4 dioptre power having a focal length 0.25m
20. (C) A concave lens has 4 dioptre power having a focal length 0.25m
21. (D) A concave lens has -4 dioptre power having a focal length 0.25m