Experiment 5
Aim
To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting graphs between u and v and between 1/u and
1/v.
Apparatus
An optical bench with three uprights
A convex lens with lens holder
Two optical needles and a half meter scale.
Theory
The relation between u, v and f for a convex lens is:
Where, f = focal length of convex lens. u = distance of object needle from lens. v = distance of image
needle from lens.
According to sign-convention, u has negative value and v has positive value for convex les. Hence, f
comes positive
Ray diagram:
Expected graph
Observation
Rough focal length: cm
Table for u- v graph
Sl no. U(cm) V(cm)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Calculation
From the graph find the x and y coordinate of the point C
X= y= 2f
F= x/2=y/2
Result
Focal length of convex lens as calculated from graph is-------cm
Precautions (Any Two)
1. Tips of the image needle and the object needle must lie at the exact height as the lens’s
centre.
2. Parallax must be corrected from tip to tip by placing the eye at a distance minimum of 30 cm
apart from the needle.
3. The object needle must be positioned at such a distance that only an inverted and real image
of the object needle is produced.
Sources of error
1. The uprights may not be the vertical.
2. Parallax removal may not be perfect.
