A concave spherical mirror
Define the optical axis as a line normal to the sphere that
goes through the center.
Using s and s for object and image distance,
respectively, we show on the board that for objects
placed on or near the optical axis, 1/s+1/ s =2/R, where
R is the radius of the mirror.
Taking s, we find that R/2 is the image distance for
an object placed very far away. This is called the focal
distance f=R/2, and 1/s+1/s =1/f. This is the basic
object-image relation for mirrors and lenses it turns out.
The magnification follows as m=-s/s.
Ray tracing
This is a very useful geometric method for analyzing
mirrors.
Ray tracing can check our algebra for image distances,
and can immediately determine all aspects of the image
(real/virtual, inverted, magnified).
The key is to pick good rays. For a mirror, these are
Parallel rays, which have reflections projecting
through the focal point.
Central rays, which bounce of the center of the mirror
at the same angle they hit it.
Radial rays, which project through the center of the
sphere and bounce straight back out.
Focal rays, which project through the focal point and
bounce off parallel to the optic axis.
Ray tracing example
This diagram uses a parallel ray, a radial ray, and a
central ray. The image is the point where the projected
reflections meet.
For this case the image is real, inverted, and demagnified.
Try this one
A.
B.
C.
D.
An object is placed 10 cm in front of a spherical mirror
with focal distance 20 cm. Which best describes the
image?
Real, non-inverted.
Real, inverted.
Virtual, non-inverted.
Virtual inverted.
A convex mirror
Convex mirrors always produce virtual images because
they diverge light. The images are also always noninverted and demagnified.
All the formulas work as long as we make the convention
that i<0 for virtual images and f<0 for diverging optical
elements.
Then 1/s+1/s=1/f and m=-s/s as before.
Convex mirror example
This diagram uses a central ray, a focal ray, and a
parallel ray.
Note that the projections of the rays identify the image,
which is virtual, non-inverted, and demagnified.
What the heck does this mean?
You will find that Objects in the mirror are closer than
they appear is written on the passenger-side mirror of
your car. This implies that this mirror is
1. Plane.
2. Concave.
3. Convex.
Refraction at a curved surface
n1
n2
f=(n2/n1)R
A Lens
Suppose n1=1 (air), and we attach a second piece of
concave transparent mirror to the first. Call R1 and R2
the radii of curvatures.
If we keep the pieces of glass thin, use the image of the
first surface for the object for the second, and adopt the
convention that if rays converge towards the object then
we define the distance to be negative, then we get the
lens makers formula:
1/s+1/s=(n-1)(1/R1-1/R2)=1/f.
Where 1/f=(n-1)(1/R1-1/R2).
Sign conventions
s>0 if rays diverge from the object.
s>0 if the image is on the opposite side of the lens than
the object.
R>0 if the center of the circle is on the opposite side of
the lens than the object.
f>0 if the focal point is on the opposite side of the lens
than the real object.
Ray tracing for convex converging lenses
A parallel ray will refract through the far focal point.
A focal ray through the focal point will emerge parallel.
A central ray will pass through undeflected.
Ray tracing for concave diverging lenses
A parallel ray will project through the near focal point.
A focal ray projected to the far focal point will emerge
parallel.
A central ray will pass through undeflected.
This is not so different from the converging lens; the
focal points simply switch roles.
How do our eyes work
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which quantity is adjusted by our eyes to produce a
sharp focus of an image on the retina?
Image distance.
Radii of lenses.
Object distance.
Pupil diameter.
How does a camera work?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which quantity is adjusted for a camera to produce a
sharp focus of an image on the film or CCD plane?
Image distance.
Radii of lenses.
Object distance.
Aperture diameter.
Masking a lens
A.
B.
C.
D.
What would happen to the real image in the previous
slide if you blocked off the lower half of a converging
lens?
The entire image would disappear.
The upper half of the image would disappear.
The lower half of the image would disappear.
The image would remain, albeit dimmer.
Myopia (My World)
2
In your eye, the image
distance is fixed,
so for different objects f must be
adjusted by varying R1,R2:
Since 1/s=1/f-1/s, as s gets bigger, so
must f, implying R1,R2 must get bigger;
the eyes lenses must flatten
If your eyes muscles cannot accomplish
this, you are myopic; your eyes lenses
focus to a point in front of the retina.
The largest value of s that you can see
clearly is called your far point.
Since you can only see close-by objects,
you are near-sighted.
Corrective lens for myopia
A myopic eye focuses a distant object to a point in front
of, not on, the retina. What kind of lens can be used to
correct for myopia?
A. A bi-convex lens.
B. A converging lens.
C. A negative focal length lens.
Myopia/Hyperopia
As you get to be my age, your ability to compress your
eyes lenses also goes to pot. Your near point moves
away from its healthy value of 15 cm. You develop
hyperopia (left) or far-sightedness.
Your near point approaches your far point. Youre stuck
with bifocals: different lenses to correct different
problems.
LASIK Surgery
This is a technique wherein vision is
corrected by reshaping the optics of
the eye itself using a carefully
controlled excimer UV-light laser to
remove tissue from the cornea.
For most, LASIK surgery restores
nearly perfect vision.
On the other hand, if your eyeglass
prescription is screwed up, you just get
a new one. If your LASIK surgery is
screwed up, youre scr
This procedure needs to be
undertaken with care. But its rather
amazing that it is possible!
