Module

 #4:    How  do  lenses  make  things  look?                        Light  and  Color:    Phys  1230  
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Name:  
 
Activity  #11:    Lens  Lab  
 

Converging lens, convex

Part 1. IMAGE FORMATION Divergi
We  will  use  several  pieces  of  equipment:  
1. optics  bench,  which  is  simply  a  rail  on  which  lenses  are  placed  
2. Small  bright  light,  which  acts  almost  like  a  point  source  
3. Three  converging  lenses  labeled  A,  B,  and  C.    
4. Frosted  glass  screen,  labeled  “I”  on  which  you  can  view  images.      
5. Metal  plate  with  an  aperture  (a  hole)  in  the  shape  of  an  arrow.    The  hole  is  covered  
with  a  frosted,  translucent  material  (scotch  tape).    When  this  aperture  is  placed  in  
front  of  the  light  source,  it  forms  a  convenient  object  for  image-­‐forming  experiments.  
 
To  do  and  to  notice  
1. Place   the   light   source   at   the   end   of   the   optics   bench   and   attach   it   with   the  
thumbscrew  in  the  slot.    Turn  it  on.  
2. Place  the  frosted  screen,  I,  at  the  far  end  of  the  bench.    
 
Do  you  see  an  image  of  the  light  source?    Why  or  why  not?  
 
 
 
 
Next,  use  a  lens.  
1. Put   lens   B   on   the   bench   close   to   the   object   (the   arrow)   and   move   it   slowly   away  
from  the  source  until  you  see  a  clear  image  on  the  screen.    
2. Now   put   the   arrow-­‐shaped   mask   directly   in   front   of   the   lens.   The   image   is   most  
easily   seen   looking   through   the   screen   towards   the   light   source,   but   it   can   also   be  
seen  from  the  other  side.      
3. Adjust  the  position  of  the  lens  to  give  the  sharpest  image  and  record  the  position  of  
the  lens  (as  indicated  by  the  ring  on  the  housing).      
 
Draw  a  sketch  of  the  setup,  labeling  the  appropriate  parts  (object/light,  lens,  
image/screen).      Label  the  object  distance  (do)  and  the  image  distance  (di).  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Adapted  from  LEP       Page  1 of 4  

  Module  #4:    How  do  lenses  make  things  look?                        Light  and  Color:    Phys  1230  
 
Calculate  the  focal  length  
Measure  the  object  distance  and  the  image  distance.    Use  the  lens  equation  to  calculate  the  
1 1 1
focal  length  f.     = +
f d 0 d i .      Show  your  work  and  indicate  your  units.    Check  your  answer  
with  your  instructor.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calculate  the  magnification.      
Measure  the  object  height  and  the  image  height.    Calculate  the  magnification.    Show  your  
work.    Does  this  answer  make  sense?      If  the  image  is  upside  down,  do  you  get  a  negative  
magnification?       If   the   image   appears   magnified,   do   you   get   a   magnification   whose  
magnitude  (that  is,  ignoring  negative  numbers)  is  greater  than  one?    (  If  you  finish  early,  you  
can  check  your  answer  by  measuring  the  object  and  image  distances).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Try  the  puzzler!!  
Block  half  the  lens  with  a  piece  of  paper.  What  happens?  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Adapted  from  LEP       Page  2 of 4  

  Module  #4:    How  do  lenses  make  things  look?                        Light  and  Color:    Phys  1230  
 
****If  you  have  time  continue  with  other  cases  PART  1:****  
USE  ADDITIONAL  SHEET  OF  PAPER:  
1. Using   your   setup   with   lens   B,   try   to   find   another   position   of   the   image.   Do   this   by  
moving   around   the   lens   and   screen.   Can   you   find   another   image?   If   yes,   is   the  
magnification   different   than   the   first   image?   Measure   the   image   distance,   object  
distance,  and  then  calculate  the  focal  length.    
2. Replace  lens  B  with  a  different  lens  at  the  same  position.  Do  you  still  see  an  image?  
Move   the   lens   and   screen   around   so   you   get   an   image.   Repeat   magnification   and  
focal  length  calculations.    
 
 

PART 2: MAKE PARALLEL RAYS

 
Parallel   light   rays   entering   a   lens   will   converge   at   the   focal   point   on   the   other   side.    
Therefore,  where   do   you   think   you   will   need   to   place   an   object   in   order   for   the   light  
rays  to  emerge  parallel  from  the  lens?  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remove   the   frosted   arrow   plate   from   the   light   source,   and   test   your   prediction   above.     That  
is,   adjust   the  locations   so   that   you  get  light   exiting   the   lens   parallel.    A   good   way   to   check  
that  it  is  parallel  is  this:  point  the  beam  at  a  nearby  wall,  where  it  will  produce  a  disc  of  light.      
This  is  called  a  "collimated  beam."    Sketch  your  setup  below.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Why  does  a  collimated  beam  produce  a  disc  of  light?  
 
 
 
 

Adapted  from  LEP       Page  3 of 4  

  Module  #4:    How  do  lenses  make  things  look?                        Light  and  Color:    Phys  1230  

PART 3: MAKE A TELESCOPE

 
1. Use   two   lenses,   one   as   the   eyepiece   and   one   as   the   objective.     Preferably,   the  
eyepiece   should   have   a   short   focal   length,   and   the   objective   should   have   a   long   focal  
length.    Aim  your  lab  apparatus  at  a  distant  object.  Look  through  the  eyepiece  and  
adjust  the  spacing  of  the  lenses  until  you  see  a  clear  image.        
2. Draw  your  set  up.    Describe  the  image  you  see  and  the  size  of  the  object.  Explain  the  
path  the  light  travels  to  get  from  the  image  to  your  eye.    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This   image,   which   appears   a   distance   f0   behind   the   objective   lens,   is   called   an  
intermediate   image,   because   it   is   intermediate   between   the   objective   and   eyepiece   lens.  
The  observer  views  this  image  through  the  eyepiece  lens,  which  acts  as  a  magnifying  glass.  
 

 
 
In  this  diagram,  the  rays  entering  the  objective  lens  represent  rays  from  the  topmost  point  
of  the  distant  object.    The  rays  exiting  the  eyepiece  lens  are  parallel  rays,  which  are  about  to  
enter  the  observer's  eye.      
 

Adapted  from  LEP       Page  4 of 4