ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY B7
AIM
To
obtain lens
abtain lens combination with the
specified focal length by
set of lenses. using two lenses from the
qiven
AND MATERIAL REQUII
A P P A R A T U S
cet of convex lenses ot knOwn focal lengths, an
optical bench with uprights and screern.
THEORY
Principal focus. A narrow beam of light parallel to the principal axis either converges to a point or aPpears
to diverge from a
point on the principal axis after refraction through called
of the lens.
the lens. This point is
principa
focus
2. Focal length. It is the distance between the principal focus and optical centre of the ens.
3. Power of a lens. The ability of a lens to converge or diverge a parallel beam of light on refraction tharougs t
It is equal to the reciprocal of focal length expressed in metres.
1 100
P- =
f(m) f(cm)
The SI unit of power is dioptre (D). Power of a convex lens is taken as positive while that of a
concave lens as negative.
4 Equivalent focal length and power of two thin lenses in contact. If two thin lenses of focal lengths
in contact, then the focal length F of the combination is
given by
fand f2 are placed
Power of the combination is given by
P=P +Pz
RAY DIAGRAMS
Combination of
lenses L and L2
Screen
Distant Inverted
candie image of
thame candle 1lame
beamm of ight on combination of lenses
parallel
13 Focal leng Fig. 14 Focussing
of combination of lenses.
201
PROCEDURE
alculate the power
of each convex lens by using the relation, P =Also calculatethe
lens combination corresponding to the required focal lengtn.
r o m the
given set of lenses, select a lens whose power 1s of
less than that of the
the combinats
calculated above. combination as
S.
Calculate the power of second lens required to be
kept in contact with the lens
L so as to o
lenscombination of desired power by using the relation, P, =P-P, obtain
F r o m the
given set of
lenses, select the lens L, whose power is closest to the calculated power D
5. Place the optical bench
horizontally on the working table. Mount the lenses L and L, on
uprights such that the two lenses are in contact with each other. A Single upright can also be
two
to hold the two used
lenses in contact by fixing the lenses on grooves carved on a
6.
thermocol sheet
Mount the screen on
another upright and adjust its height so that centre of the screen
the lens combination
are at the same horizontal level.
and centre nfof
7. Mount a burning candle on an
upright and place it at the other extreme end of the optical
shown in
Fig. 13. This will serve an object at infinity because the focal bench as
combination will be very small. length of the lens
8. Adjust the position of the upright holding the lens combination so that a
the flame is obtained on the
sharp inverted image of
screen.
9. Measure the distances d, and
d, of the screen from the centres O, and of the two lenses. The
mean of the two
distances will give focal length of the lens combination.O,
10. Repeat the activity two more times by slightly changing the
optical bench. Record your observations in a tabular form. position
of the lens combination on the
OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
Least count of the scale the
on
optical bench = mm Cm
For the given set of lenses, focal lengths are
cm 2 cm 3. cm
Cm Cm
Powers of the lensesP P-are
1. D 2 D 3 D D 5.
Focal length of chosen lens L =_ Cm
Focal length of chosen lens Lz =_ cm
Calculated focal length F of the combination is given by
or
Ff+f2 Cm
202
Section B: ACTIVITIES
Table B11: Focal length of the combination of lenses
Mean distance of the screen
Distance of lens L1 Distance of lens L,2 from the lens combination
[Link]. from the screen from the screen F=d +d
d, (cm) dz (Cm) 2
(cm)
1.
2.
3.
of the lens combination = Mean value of F =_ cm
Focal length
RESULT
Calculated value of focal length of the lens combination = cm
of lens combination= cm
Measured value of focal lerngth
Difference between measured
value of focal length and the calculated focal length = cm
Within the limits of experiment error,
the measured and calculated values of focal length of the lens
combination are equal.
SoURCES OF ERROR
the lenses cause an error.
1. Thickness of may
T h e peripheral regions of the two lenses are not in contact.
3. Spherical aberration of the lenses causes an error in locating the position of sharp image i.e., causes
an error in the focal length of the combination.