DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

BANGALORE EAST

Determination of the Focal

Length of a Convex Lens by
Shift Method

Name: Madhav Iyli Class: 12 P

Roll No:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special

thanks to the teacher in charge Ms.
Raghy for her guidance and constant
supervision. She provided all the
necessary information regarding the
project and support to complete this
project.

I would also like to thank my friends

and family for their cooperation and
encouragement.

Lastly I would like to thank our

Principal Ms. Manila Carvalho, our
Vice Principal [Link] Soota and my
Delhi Public School Bangalore East,
without whom this project would not
be possible.

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Mr. of class XII,
with Roll Number of Delhi Public
School Bangalore East has completed his/her
project in the subject for the class XII
Practical Examination of the Central Board of
Secondary Education for the academic year
2025-2026 under my supervision.
He has taken great care and shown utmost
sincerity in the completion of the project. I
further certify that this project is up to my
expectation and is as per the CBSE
requirements.

Dr. Manila Carvalho Internal Examiner

Principal

External Examiner

CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION

Lenses are fundamental in optics, serving as key

components in many devices from simple magnifiers to
sophisticated cameras, telescopes, and eyeglasses. A
convex lens, or converging lens, bends parallel rays of
light to meet at a point. The distance between the lens
and this focal point is known as the focal length.
Knowing the focal length of a lens is crucial because it
determines the lens’s optical power and its ability to
form clear images. This investigatory project aims to
determine the focal length of a convex lens using the
shift (displacement) method.
Determining focal length is important in both scientific
and practical contexts. In everyday life, focal length
influences how cameras capture images: longer focal
lengths produce higher magnification and a narrower
field of view, while shorter focal lengths yield a wider
view. It also affects how corrective lenses focus light
onto the retina. In optical instruments like microscopes
and telescopes, accurate focal lengths ensure clear
magnified images of objects. Measuring focal length
helps in calibrating and designing optical devices
reliably.

The shift method

is a straightforward experimental technique to find focal
length without requiring a distant object. In this method,
an object and a screen are fixed at a known distance
apart. The convex lens is placed between them and
moved until a sharp image of the object is formed on the
screen in two distinct positions. By measuring the
distance between these two lens positions (the shift) and
using the fixed separation of object and screen, the focal
length can be calculated using a standard lens relation.
This experiment demonstrates practical aspects of
geometrical optics and reinforces the relationship
between object distance, image distance, and focal
length.

AIM:
To determine the focal length of given convex lens using
the displacement (shift) method.

THEORY:
A convex lens converges parallel rays of light to a point
called the principal focus. The distance from the optical
center of the lens to this focus is known as the focal
length.
When an object and a screen are fixed at a distance D
(where D > 4f), there exist two positions of the convex
lens between them where a sharp image of the object is
formed on the screen. These two images are real,
inverted, and of the same size.

Let:
D = distance between the object and screen
d = distance between the two positions of the lens
where sharp images are formed
f = focal length of the lens
Then, the focal length is given by the formula:
This is known as the displacement method, which is
based on the lens formula and geometry of image
formation. It provides a reliable and accurate method to
calculate the focal length without needing a distant
object.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
· Convex lens (focal length ~ 10 cm to 15 cm).

· Optical bench or meter scale.

· Two stands (one for the lens, one for the object).

· Screen (white paper or card fixed on a stand).

· Illuminated object (candle or arrow mark on paper).

· Lens holder.

· Scale or measuring tape.

· Pencil and notebook for recording observations.

RAY DIAGRAM:

PROCEDURE:
 Fix a white object (like an arrow on paper or a candle) at one end of the optical
bench or meter scale.
 Place a screen at a distance D (more than 4 times the expected focal length) from
the object and keep it fixed.
 Mount the convex lens on a stand and place it between the object and screen.
 Move the lens slowly between the object and the screen to obtain a sharp, real,
and inverted image on the screen. Mark this first position of the lens.
 Continue moving the lens until a second sharp image is formed on the screen.
Mark this second position of the lens.
 Measure the distance d between the two lens positions.
 Record the object-screen distance D and lens shift d.
 Repeat the procedure for at least 3 different values of D (all greater than 4f).
 Use the formula to calculate the focal length for each trial.

 Find the average of the calculated focal lengths to get the final result.

OBSERVATIONS:
➤ Distance between object and screen (D) = 45 cm
➤ Position of lens for first sharp image (S₁) = 30 cm
➤ Position of lens for second sharp image (S₂) = 15 cm
➤ Displacement of lens (S) = |S₁ − S₂| = 15 cm
➤ Object distance from lens in first position (x₁) = 6.0 cm
➤ Object distance from lens in second position (x₂) = 5.5 cm
➤ All measurements taken using a meter scale with least count = 0.1 cm
Observation Table:

Quantity Measured Observed Value

Distance between object and screen (D) 45 cm

Position of lens for first sharp image (S₁) 30 cm

Position of lens for second sharp image (S₂) 15 cm

Displacement of lens (|S₁ − S₂|) 15 cm

Object distance from lens at first position (x₁) 6.0 cm

Object distance from lens at second position (x₂) 5.5 cm

CALCULATIONS:
➤ Distance between object and screen, D = 45 cm
➤ Displacement of lens between two sharp image positions, S = 15 cm
➤ Object distance from lens in first position, x₁ = 6.0 cm
➤ Object distance from lens in second position, x₂ = 5.5 cm

Step 1: Calculation of Focal Length (f):

Using the displacement method formula,

Substituting the values:

Step 2: Calculation of Radius of Curvature:

Using the formula,

For R1 (using x1 = 6cm),

For R2 (using x2 = 5.5cm),

Step 3: Calculation of Refractive Index (n)

Using the formula,

Substituting values,
RESULT:
➤ The focal length (f) of the given convex lens, determined using the displacement
(shift) method, is found to be:

➤ The radii of curvature of the lens surfaces are:

➤ The refractive index (n) of the lens material is calculated to be:

SOURCES OF ERROR:
· Parallax error while noting the lens positions (S₁ and S₂) on the scale.

· Improper alignment of the lens, object, and screen may lead to blurred
images.

· Difficulty in identifying the exact sharp image, especially if the image is

not very bright.

· Inaccuracy in measuring distances due to least count limitations of the

meter scale.

· Slight tilting of the lens or screen may alter the image formation.

· Human error in noting down readings and distances.

PRECAUTIONS:
· The convex lens, object, and screen should be perfectly aligned along the
principal axis.

· Ensure that the lens and screen are vertical and not tilted.

· Use a sharp, well-lit object (like a candle or arrow on paper) for better
image clarity.

· The object and screen must remain fixed while shifting the lens.

· Avoid parallax error while taking readings — view scale markings at eye
level.

· Repeat the experiment for better accuracy and calculate the average if
needed.

· Take all measurements carefully using a scale with least count = 0.1 cm.

· Handle the lens with care — avoid fingerprints or scratches on the

surface.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
· NCERT Physics Textbook – Class XII

· Comprehensive Laboratory Manual in Physics – Class XII

· Pradeep’s Fundamental Physics – Volume II

· CBSE Practical Manual

· Online resources and educational websites:

• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]

· Classroom notes and guidance from subject teacher