Optics of the magnifying glass

In summary, to see the image of the object at a distance of 1 cm, the object must be placed at a distance of: 1 cm + 25 cm = 26 cm from the magnifying glass.
  • #1
Firye Stanly
4
0

Homework Statement


An observer looks at a small object using a magnifying glass with the focal length of 12cm. Distance from his eye to the magnifying glass is 1cm. The shortest distance at which he sees clearly is 25cm and the largest is when the image of the object is in the distance infinite. Minimal and maximal values of the distance of the object from the magnifying glass at which the object is seen clearly is...

Homework Equations


##\frac{1}{f}=\frac{1}{p}+\frac{1}{q}## - the mirror equation

The Attempt at a Solution


I don't know if the mirror equation can be applied here and to be honest i don't know what these information tell me...
Focal length is given and the ##1cm## is supposed to be the ##p## in the equation, the distance of the observer to the glass, right? I am not sure of what the smalest and the largest distance of clear sight are...could you help?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Look up "near point" and "far point".
In order to see the image - what is the minimum distance it can be from his eye?
What is the object position that will put the image there?
It's that kind of thing.
 
  • #3
The lens is to be used to form images of the small object 25 cm and very far (inifinite) from the observer.
These are the minimal and maximal points of clear vision.
 
  • #4
Firye Stanly said:

Homework Statement


An observer looks at a small object using a magnifying glass with the focal length of 12cm. Distance from his eye to the magnifying glass is 1cm. The shortest distance at which he sees clearly is 25cm and the largest is when the image of the object is in the distance infinite. Minimal and maximal values of the distance of the object from the magnifying glass at which the object is seen clearly is...
There are two problems: one where the eye is accommodated to infinity and the other where it's accommodated to 25 cm.

I suggest drawing the complete picture. This includes the magnifying lens, the eye lens and the eye retina. So you might have

f1 = focal length of mag. lens;
p1 = distance from object to mag. lens
q1 = distance from mag. lens to (real) first image;
f2 = focal length of eye lens;
p2 = distance from 1st image to eye lens; and
q2 = distance from eye lens to retina (where tyher second real image is finally formed.

So, apply the mirror (actually also the lens) formula. Figure out what parameters you know and don't know (for example, you don't know f2 or q2 but what about the rest?) Your goal is to compute p1.
 

FAQ: Optics of the magnifying glass

1. How does a magnifying glass work?

A magnifying glass uses convex lenses to bend and focus light, making objects appear larger and clearer to the human eye. The lens captures light and directs it towards a focal point, creating a magnified image of the object being viewed.

2. What is the magnification power of a magnifying glass?

The magnification power of a magnifying glass is determined by the curvature and thickness of the lens. The higher the curvature and thickness, the greater the magnification power. The average magnification power of a magnifying glass is around 2 to 5 times.

3. Can a magnifying glass be used to start a fire?

Yes, a magnifying glass can be used to start a fire by focusing the sunlight onto a small point, creating enough heat to ignite flammable materials. This technique is commonly used in survival situations or for outdoor activities like camping.

4. Why do images appear upside down when viewed through a magnifying glass?

This is due to the way light is refracted and focused by the convex lens of a magnifying glass. The light rays cross over at the focal point, causing the image to appear upside down. This is a common phenomenon in many optical devices.

5. How does the size of the object being viewed affect the magnified image through a magnifying glass?

The size of the object being viewed does not affect the magnified image through a magnifying glass. The lens simply magnifies the image by bending and focusing the light, regardless of the size of the object. However, the distance between the object and the lens can affect the size of the magnified image.

Back
Top