SS: Ray Diagrams For Converging Lens


Trick to drawing ray diagrams for converging lens:

  • There is one ray of light passing through the center of the lens. Always.
  • 2 rays are enough to determine the position of image/object.
  • The other ray of light ALWAYS passes through the focal point of the lens. Either the first focal point of the second focal point.
  • If a ray passes through the focal point before passing through the lens, the refracted ray will be travelling parallel to principal axis.
  • If a ray is parallel to principal axis before passing through the lens, the refracted ray will pass through the focal point.

 

Tips:

  • Use solid lines for real light rays and put arrowheads to indicate direction
  • Use dotted lines for extended light rays (virtual light rays) and do not add arrowhead
  • Use solid lines for real images and dotted lines for virtual images

 

You can check the tricks above with the diagrams below. (Click to zoom)

 

Lenses
Note:

  • An image that is real is always inverted!
  • An image that is virtual is always upright!

 


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