Optical Instruments
Simple Microscope: A simple microscope or a magnifying glass is just a convex
lens of short focal length, held close to the eye.
Working principle:
(a) When the final image is formed at the least distance of distinct vision:
When an object AB is placed between
the focus F and optical centre O of a
convex lens; a virtual, erect and
magnified image A'B' is formed on the
same side of the lens as the object.
Since a normal eye can see an object
clearly at the least distance of distinct
vision D (=25 cm), the position of the lens is so adjusted that the final image is
formed at the distance D from the lens, as shown in Fig.
Magnifying power: The magnifying power of a simple microscope is defined as
the ratio of the angles subtended by the image and the object at the eye, when
both are at the least distance of distinct vision from the eye. Thus,
Magnifying power =
𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑡 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑡 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
As the eye is held close to the lens, the angles subtended at the lens may be taken
to be the angles subtended at the eye. The image A' B' is formed at the least
distance of distinct vision 'D'. Let ∠A' OB' = β. Let the object AB to be displaced
to position A′′B′′ at distance D from the lens. Let ∠A"OB′ = α. Then magnifying
power,
𝛽 tan 𝛽 𝐴𝐵⁄ 𝐴𝐵⁄
m= ≈ = 𝐴′′𝐵 𝑂𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑂𝐵
[∵ A′′B′ = AB]
𝛼 tan 𝛼 ⁄𝑂𝐵′ ⁄𝑂𝐵′
𝑂𝐵′ −𝐷 𝐷
∴m= = =
𝑂𝐵 −𝑥 𝑥
Let ‘f’ be the focal length of the lens. As the image is formed at the least
distance of distinct vision from the lens, so, v = -D.
Using thin lens formula,
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 𝐷 𝐷
- = or, - = or, = + or, =1+
𝑣 𝑢 𝑓 −𝐷 −𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 𝐷 𝑓 𝑥 𝑓
SOMEN SIR 1
𝐷
∴m=1+
𝑓
Thus, shorter the focal length of the convex lens, the greater is its
magnifying power.
(b) When the final image is formed at infinity:
When the image is formed at infinity, which
is more suitable and comfortable for viewing
by the relaxed eye.
Magnifying power: It is defined as the ratio of the angle formed by the image
(when situated at infinity) at the eye to the angle formed by the object at the eye,
when situated at the least distance of distinct vision.
𝛽 tan 𝛽
m= ≈
𝛼 tan 𝛼
From the figure,
ℎ ℎ
tan β = and from figure (b), tan α =
𝑓 𝐷
ℎ⁄
𝑓 𝐷
∴m= ℎ⁄ =
𝐷 𝑓
This magnification is one less than the magnification when the image is formed
at the near point. But viewing is more comfortable when the eye is focussed at
infinity.
Uses of simple microscopes:
1. Watch makers and jewellers use a magnifying glass for having a magnified
view of the small parts of watches and the fine jewellery work.
2. In magnifying the printed letters in a book, textures of fibres or threads of a
cloth, engravings, details of stamp, etc.
3. Magnifying glass is used in science laboratories for reading vernier scales, etc.
Compound Microscope:
SOMEN SIR 2
A compound microscope is an optical device used to see magnified images of tiny
objects. A good quality compound microscope can produce magnification of the
order of 1000.
Construction: It consists of two convex lenses of short focal length, arranged co-
axially at the ends of two sliding metal tubes.
1. Objective: It is a convex lens of very short focal length fo and small aperture.
It is positioned near the object to be magnified.
2. Eyepiece or ocular: It is a convex lens of comparatively larger focal length fe
and larger aperture than the objective (fe > fo). It is positioned near the eye for
viewing the final image.
(a) When the final image is formed at the least distance of distinct vision:
The object AB to be viewed is placed at
distance u0, slightly larger than the focal
length fo of the objective O. The objective
forms a real, inverted and magnified image A'
B', of the object AB on the other side of the
lens O, as shown in Fig. . The separation
between the objective O and the eyepiece E, is
so adjusted that the image A' B' lies within the
focal length fe of the eyepiece. The image A'B' acts as an object for the eyepiece
which essentially acts like a simple microscope. The eyepiece E forms a virtual
and magnified final image A" B" of the object AB. Clearly, the final image A" B"
is inverted with respect to the object AB.
Magnifying power: The magnifying power of a compound microscope is
defined as the ratio of the angle subtended at the eye by the final virtual image to
the angle subtended at the eye by the object, when both are at the least distance
of distinct vision from the eye.
ℎ′⁄
𝛽 tan 𝛽 𝑢𝑒 ℎ′ 𝐷 ℎ′ 𝐷
m= ≈ = ℎ⁄ = . = [Link], here mo = and me =
𝛼 tan 𝛼 𝐷 ℎ 𝑢𝑒 ℎ 𝑢𝑒
As the eyepiece acts as a simple microscope, so
𝐷 𝐷
me = =1+
𝑢𝑒 𝑓𝑒
𝑣𝑜 𝐷
∴m= (1 + )
𝑢𝑜 𝑓𝑒
SOMEN SIR 3
b) When the final image is formed at infinity:
The magnifying power of a
compound microscope is defined as
the ratio of the angle subtended at the
eye by the final image formed at
infinity to the angle subtended (at the
unaided eye) by the object.
Let the image of the object AB, A'𝐵 ′
lies at the focus 𝐹𝑒′ of the eyepiece i.e., ue
= fe, the image A" B" is formed at infinity, as shown in Fig.
ℎ′ 𝐿
∴ Magnification due to objective, m0 = =
ℎ −𝑓𝑜
𝐷
Angular magnification due to eyepiece, me =
𝑓𝑒
Hence total magnification when the final image is formed at infinity,
𝐿 𝐷
m = m × m0 = - ×
𝑓𝑜 𝑓𝑒
Astronomical telescope:
Astronomical telescope is a refracting type telescope used to see heavenly bodies
like stars, planets, satellites, etc.
Construction:
It consists of two converging lenses mounted co-axially at the outer ends of two
sliding tubes.
Objective:
It is a convex lens of large focal length and a much larger aperture. It faces the
distant object. In order to form bright image of the distant objects, the aperture of
the objective is taken large so that it can gather sufficient light from the distant
objects.
Eyepiece:
It is a convex lens of small focal length and small aperture. It faces the eye. The
aperture of the eyepiece is taken small so that whole light of the telescope may
enter the eye for distinct vision.
SOMEN SIR 4
a) When the final image is formed at the least distance of distinct vision:
The parallel beam of
light coming from the
distant object falls on
the objective at some
angle α. The objective
focusses the beam in
its focal plane and
forms a real, inverted
and diminished image A' B'. This image A'B' acts as an object for the eyepiece.
The distance of the eyepiece is so adjusted that the image A'B' lies within its focal
length. The eyepiece magnifies this image so that final image A" B" is magnified
and inverted with respect to the object. The final image is seen distinctly by the
eye at the least distance of distinct vision.
Magnifying power:
The magnifying power of a telescope is defined as the ratio of the angle subtended
at the eye by the final image formed at the least distance of distinct vision to the
angle subtended at the eye by the object at infinity, when seen directly.
As the object is very far off, the angle subtended by it at the eye is
practically equal to the angle α subtended by it at the objective. Thus
∠𝐴′ OB′ = α, also let ∠A"EB" = β
𝐴′ 𝐵 ′⁄
𝛽 tan 𝛽 𝐵′ 𝐸 𝑂𝐵′
∴ Magnifying power, m = ≈ = 𝐴′ 𝐵 ′⁄
=
𝛼 tan 𝛼 𝐵′ 𝐸
𝑂𝐵′
According to the new cartesian sign convention,
𝑂𝐵 ′ = + fo = focal length of the objective
𝐵 ′ 𝐸 = - ue = distance of 𝐴′ 𝐵 ′ from the eyepiece, acting as an object for it
𝑓𝑜
∴m=-
𝑢𝑒
Again, for the eyepiece, u = ue and v = - D
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 𝑓
As, - = or, - = or, = + = (1 + 𝑒 )
𝑣 𝑢 𝑓 −𝐷 −𝑢𝑒 𝑓𝑒 𝑢𝑒 𝐷 𝑓𝑒 𝑓𝑒 𝐷
𝑓𝑜 𝑓𝑜 𝑓
Hence, m = - = - (1 + 𝑒 )
𝑢𝑒 𝑓𝑒 𝐷
When the final image is formed at infinity:
SOMEN SIR 5
when a parallel beam of light
is incident on the objective,
it forms a real, inverted and
diminished image A' B' in its
focal plane. The eyepiece is
so adjusted that the image A'
B exactly lies at its focus.
Therefore, the final image is
formed at infinity, and is highly magnified and inverted with respect to the object.
Magnifying power in normal adjustment:
It is defined as the ratio of the angle subtended at the eye by the final image as
seen through the telescope to the angle subtended at the eye by the object seen
directly, when both the image and the object lie at infinity.
As the object is very far off, the angle subtended by it at the eye is
practically equal to the angle α subtended by it at the objective.
Thus, ∠𝐴′ OB′ = α and let ∠𝐴′ EB′ = β
∴ Magnifying power,
𝐴′ 𝐵 ′⁄
𝛽 tan 𝛽 𝐵′ 𝐸 𝑂𝐵′
m= ≈ = ′
𝐴 𝐵⁄ ′ =
𝛼 tan 𝛼 𝐵′𝐸
𝑂𝐵′
Applying new cartesian sign convention,
𝑂𝐵 ′ = + fo = Distance of 𝐴′ 𝐵 ′ from the objective along the incident light
𝐵 ′ 𝐸 = - fe = Distance of 𝐴′ 𝐵 ′ from the eyepiece, against the incident light
𝑓𝑜
∴m=-
𝑓𝑒
For large magnification power, fo >> fe. The negative sign for m indicates that the
image is real and inverted.
SOMEN SIR 6