Labs / Physics
Ray Optics
Slide the object arrow toward and away from the lens and watch three principal rays bend through it to build the image. Switch between a converging and a diverging lens, change the focal length, and see when the image is real and flipped versus virtual and upright.
do 40.0 cmdi 40.0 cmm -1.00×real, inverted
What to try
- With the converging lens, what happens to the image as you slide the object from far away toward the focal point F?
- Move the object closer than one focal length. Where does the image jump to, and why does it turn upright?
- Place the object exactly at 2F. Why does the image come out the same size as the object?
- Can a diverging lens ever make a real, projectable image — or is it always virtual and shrunk?
- Double the focal length. Does the image move closer to the lens or farther from it?