Virtual Labs / Convex Lens
Convex Lens
Explore how a convex lens forms images. Change the focal length and object distance, then observe how the image position, size and orientation change.
Ray diagram
The diagram shows the principal rays used to locate the image.
Experiment controls
Change one variable at a time and observe the result.
Virtual image formation experiment ready.
Lens formula
For a thin convex lens, the relationship between focal length, object distance and image distance can be represented by the lens formula.
f = focal length · u = object distance · v = image distance
Magnification is calculated from the ratio of image height to object height and can also be expressed as m = v/u using the corresponding sign convention.
Experiment procedure
- Set the focal length to 10 cm.
- Place the object beyond 2F.
- Observe the position and size of the image.
- Move the object closer to the lens and observe the changes.
- Place the object between F and the lens.
- Observe the formation of a virtual, upright and magnified image.
Observation
Record the current experiment settings so you can compare different object positions.
| # | f (cm) | u (cm) | v (cm) | Magnification | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No observations recorded yet. | |||||
You can record up to 20 observations.