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Physics: Lab - Convex Lenses Name

This physics lab document provides instructions for students to determine the focal length of a convex lens and observe real and virtual images formed by convex lenses. Students will find the focal length of a convex lens by placing the lens at the center of a meter stick and adjusting the position of a screen until a clear image of a distant object comes into focus. They will then observe and record properties of images formed when the lens is placed at various distances from an object, including whether images are real or virtual, upright or inverted, and their relative size. Analysis will involve calculating focal lengths, magnification, and determining where an object must be placed for the lens to act as a magnifying glass.

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Bett Gideon
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60 views

Physics: Lab - Convex Lenses Name

This physics lab document provides instructions for students to determine the focal length of a convex lens and observe real and virtual images formed by convex lenses. Students will find the focal length of a convex lens by placing the lens at the center of a meter stick and adjusting the position of a screen until a clear image of a distant object comes into focus. They will then observe and record properties of images formed when the lens is placed at various distances from an object, including whether images are real or virtual, upright or inverted, and their relative size. Analysis will involve calculating focal lengths, magnification, and determining where an object must be placed for the lens to act as a magnifying glass.

Uploaded by

Bett Gideon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHYSICS

LAB - CONVEX LENSES NAME

OBJECTIVE: To determine the focal length of a convex lens and to observe real and virtual images
formed by convex lenses.

MATERIALS: Meter stick Lens support 2 meter stick supports


Candle Convex lens Screen
Matches Screen support

PROCEDURE

1. Finding the focal length of a convex lens.


Put the lens at the center of the meter stick. Place the screen and screen support at the 75 cm
mark on the meter stick. Take the meter stick out of the supports and bring it to the window. Aim the
meter stick at a distant object that can be seen through the window
(fig 1). Move the screen slowly towards the lens until you see and window
image of the object on the screen. Adjust the screen until the screen lens
object is in sharp focus.
The parallel rays from the distant object converge to the focal
point of the lens, thus, the focal point is where the screen is located.
The distance from the lens to the focal point is the focal length of
the lens. Record the focal length in table 1.
Take 2 more trials by having different lab partners try find the
focal length. Record the results in table 1. Take an average for
these values and record as your final result. Report this to your figure 1
teacher before you go on.

2. Finding the image of an object.


Place the meter stick back in the supports. Place the candle at the 10 cm mark for the rest of the
experiment - this will be your object. Place the lens at a distance of more that 2 times the focal length
from the object (Example - If your focal length was 20 cm than 2f = 2x20 = 40, so you would want to
put your lens over 40 cm away from the candle - perhaps the 60 cm mark on your meter stick). Put the
screen on the other side of the lens (fig 2) and adjust until a clear image appears on the screen.
Record do , di, ho , hi, size of image compared to object, whether the image is real or virtual, and
whether the image is inverted or upright in table 2.

candle lens screen

figure 2

3. Repeat step #2 with the lens set so the distance between the object and the lens is between F & 2F.

4. Repeat step #2 with the lens set so the distance between the object and the lens is exactly 2F.

5. Place the lens so the distance between the object and the lens is less than F. Attempt to find an
image on the screen. Can you find one? Take the screen off the meter stick and look straight through
the lens at the candle. What do you see? Record the comparison of image size, the type of image,
and the direction of the image in table 2.
TABLE 1 NAME

TRIAL 1

TRIAL 2

TRIAL 3

AVERAGE

TABLE 2

Position of Image Type of Direction Focal


object do di ho hi size image of image length
(larger or (Real or (Inverted or
smaller) virtual) upright)

Beyond 2F

Between
F and 2F

At 2F

Less than F

ANALYSIS
1. Calculate the focal length for each case above.

2. Compare to your final result from part 1 those you just calculated. Make a table
and discuss the results in your discussion.

3. For each trial in table 2 compute the magnification by do/di and ho/hi and compare
the results.

4. Use your results to answer the following in your discussion: Where must the object
be for a convex lens to act as a magnifying glass?

5. Answer in your discussion: Why is it better to use the sun as the distant object than
it is to use a house or tree when finding the focal length of the lens?

6. (extra credit) Set up your apparatus to determine the focal length of the lens by the
method of parallax (this method gives a much better estimate). See your teacher
for details.

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