Converging Lenses Experiment Report

Introduction
This experiment was designed to find out more about the relationship between the distance between the lens and an image source, u, and the distance between the lens and the screen when the image shown is focused, v. This should also depend on the lens focal length due to the Lens Maker equation which is as follows:

When f = lens focal length / metres, u = distance between lens and source / metres and v = distance between lens and screen / metres

Using the same measurements, this experiment should also be able to show the power in dioptres of the lens being used via this equation:

When f = lens focal length / metres and p = power of lens / dioptres

Method and Diagrams

The independent variable of this experiment was the distance between the lens and the image source, u. The method would therefore have to reflect this a use the difference in u to measure the comparative change in the dependant variable, v. This experiment should use this set up:

To make sure this experiment is reproducible, each experiment should be done at least 3 times. This will also allow you to create averages from the data you collect for plotting on graphs. In order to ensure a fair test a few precautions must be in place. The lens and metre sticks must not be moved throughout one set of results. The point of both the screen and the bulb at which you take the measurement must be the same for each result.

The light intensity of the bulb must remain as similar as possible.

Here is the method used to gather data for this experiment: 1. 2. 3. 4. Place the lens holder at the 0 on both metre sticks and turn on the bulb. Move the bulb to the measurement of u you are currently trying to measure. Adjust the screens position until a focused image in shown on the screen. Measure the distance from the screen to the lens using the metre stick. Take this value down. 5. Repeat steps 1 5 for a different measurement of u.

Results
The experiment was carried out three times over to check if the results were reproducible. Then the data was used to calculate an average of the results using each of the three tests.

As you can see, the data was processed to give the values of , ,

and(

). These would later

help in the calculations of the focal length and the power of the lens. The averages that were calculated can be used to formulate graphs as you will see in the next part of this report. However the data shows the uncertainty of each experiment in the form of a range between the lowest data value and the highest. This uncertainty could have come from many sources, most of which were highlighted when talking about fair tests in the Method section of this report. The main problem in this experiment was judging by eye when the image on the screen was in focus before taking down the measurement. This was a problem because it meant the results could have been about 2cms out on some results, and they could have been more accurate with better equipment.

Graphs
All graphs produced using the data show on the previous page have used the Cartesian Convention, meaning that all results of u, because they were behind the lens, were taken as negative values and plotted accordingly. In these graphs the uncertainty of each point was unable to be shown on the graphs. However this has been considered in the analysis of the data.

Graph showing relationship between distances v and u

Distance between the lens and the buld / m

0.80 0.70 0.60 0.50 0.40 0.30 0.20 0.10 0.00

-0.8

-0.7

-0.6 -0.5 -0.4 -0.3 Distance between the lens and the focused image / m

-0.2

-0.1

Using this data, a graph of the relationship between the value of u and the average of the values of v was plotted. This shows us that there is a relationship that could follow an equation similar to as the graph produced shows an asymptote.

Graph showing the relationship between 1/v and 1/u

6.00 5.00 4.00 1/v 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 -6.00 -5.00 -4.00 -3.00 1/u -2.00 -1.00 0.00

As you can see from the graph on the previous page, the values of each other, shown by the dropping trend line produced by the data. From the data, we can also take an average of the (

and negatively correlated to

) and use it to find the lens supposed focal

length. After calculations this came out to be, in the case of this lens:

Discussion
The first graph produced shows us a relationship between u and v that suggests that as u gets larger, the distance needed to change v by in order to get a focused image becomes smaller. You can also see the point at which distance v is converging to is the lens focal length or thereabouts. This proves the idea that if you were to use the equation

and change u to a distance very far away from the lens, which we could call with a value of the focal length as v.

, you would end up

You can also see from the second graph that there is a very strong correlation between the values of and . This illiterates the fact that the greater the distance u, the smaller the distance v. You should also be able to understand that using this relationship, the point at which both values are equal should be the same as the focal length of the lens.