Difference between Convex and Concave

Lens
Key Difference: Concave and convex are two basic types of lenses. A convex lens focuses light rays, whereas a
concave lens causes the light rays to diverge.

A lens can be defined as a transparent material

(like a glass) that has either an open curved surface or one flat surface or two curved surfaces.
They work on the principles of refraction, as they change the direction of light waves by
refraction. A convex lens focuses light rays, and therefore is also known as a converging lens.
The focal point is the point where the light rays meet.
These types of lenses are thicker in the middle than in comparison to their edges. Due to this
structure, it is able to converge the light rays. They produce real images, and therefore are mainly
used in various optical instruments. A convex lens enables a thing to look bigger than its actual
size. It happens due the fact that rays focus on the object and the object looks bigger than its
actual size. Light that passes through a convex lens can be focused on a surface like a screen.

A concave lens is just the opposite of a convex

lens. It is thinner in the middle and thicker at the edges. Therefore, it diverges the light rays. The

emerging rays do not actually intersect. However, they seem to intersect on the incidence side by
tracing the emerging rays backward.
This phenomenon is responsible for the creation of virtual images. Therefore, the image created
by a concave lens is always a virtual image rather than a real image. They are unable to form an
image on a screen. However, they are widely used together with convex lens in order to provide
sharp images to the convex lens.
Comparison between Convex and Concave Lenses:

Structure

Other name

Images Formed

Meaning

In Spectacles

Applications

Focal Length

Concave
Convex
A concave lens
is thinner in the
A convex lens is thicker in the middle and thinner at the
middle and
edges.
thicker at the
edges.
Diverging Lens Converging Lens
Real , inverted, smaller than object, - object at F
Virtual, upright
and smaller than Real , inverted, same size as object, - object at 2F
the object
between object Real , inverted, larger than object, object between 2F and F
and the lens.
(regardless of
No image - object at F
the object's
position)
Virtual, upright, larger than object behind object on the
same side of the lens
Concave means
Convex means curved or rounded like the outside of a
hollowed or
sphere or circle.
rounded.
Used for the
correction of
Used for the correction of problem in long sight.
problem in short
sight.
Glasses (to
correct for short
sight), spy holes Eye, camera, overhead projector, focus sunlight,
in doors, some projector microscope, simple telescope, glasses (to correct
telescopes, back for long sight), magnifying glass, etc.
window of
coaches, etc.
Negative
Positive