Chapter 34

Geometric Optics
Chapter 34 Test Your in-class Assignment
Geometric Optics Understanding Problems (Exercise )
(Example)
1st class: Reflection and Refraction at a
plane surface (Sign rule only), TYU-34.1 34.01 34.28,
Reflection at a spherical surface
:
(Statement of object-image TYU-34.4 34.09 34.38
relationship: no derivation),

2nd class Focal point, Focal length, Image of

extended object

Dr. Rajanikanta Parida

Department of Physics,
ITER, SOA University
Outline: Chapter 34 Geometric Optics Dr. Rajanikanta Parida/ITER/SOA University

Q: Write the Sign Rules for the object distance image distance and radius of cuvature

Ans: Sign Rules for image formation by a plane or spherical reflecting or refracting surface, or by a pair of
refracting surfaces forming a lens.
1. Sign rule for the object distance: When the object is on the same side of the reflecting or refracting
surface as the incoming light, the object distance s is
positive; otherwise, it is negative.
2. Sign rule for the image distance: When the image is on the same side of the reflecting or refracting
surface as the outgoing light, the image distance s is
positive; otherwise, it is negative.
3. Sign rule for the R: When the center of curvature C is on the same side as
the outgoing light, the radius of curvature is positive;
otherwise, it is negative.
Sign rule for the radius of curvature:

Q: Relation among the object distance, image distance and focal length for a Spherical mirror

1 1 1
Relation between object distance(s), Image distance(s) is
s s f
y s
Lateral Magnification = m
y s
Q: Image formation by concave mirror:

Q: Image formation by convex lens

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Outline: Chapter 34 Geometric Optics Dr. Rajanikanta Parida/ITER/SOA University

Test Your Understanding of Section 34.1 If you walk directly toward a plane mirror at a speed v; at
what speed does your image approach you?
(i) slower than v (ii) v (iii) faster than v but slower than 2v (iv) 2v (v) faster than 2v.
Answer: (iv)
When you are a distance s from the mirror, your image is a distance s on the other side of the mirror and
the distance from you to your image is 2s. As you move toward the mirror, the distance 2s changes at
twice the rate of the distance s, so your image moves toward you at speed 2v.
Test Your Understanding of Section 34.4 A diverging lens and an object are
positioned as shown in the figure at right. Which of the rays A, B, C, and D could
emanate from point Q at the top of the object?
Answers: A and C
When rays A and D are extended backward, they pass through focal point F 2:
Tthus, before they passed through the lens, they were parallel to the optic axis.
The figures show that ray A emanated from point Q, but ray D did not.
Ray B is parallel to the optic axis, so before it passed through the lens, it was
directed toward focal point F1. Hence it cannot have come from point Q.
Ray C passes through the center of the lens and hence is not deflected by its passage; tracing the ray
backward shows that it emanates from point Q.

Example Problems

Example 34.1 Image formation by a concave mirror

A concave mirror forms an image, on a wall 3.0m in front of the mirror, of a headlamp filament 10.0 cm in
front of the mirror.

(a) What are the radius of curvature and focal length of the mirror?
(b) What is the lateral magnification? What is the image height if the object height is 5.0 mm?

Solution.:
The ray diagram is shown in the figure

(a) Both the object and the image are on the

concave (reflective) side of the mirror,
So both s and s are positive;
We have s = 10 cm and s = 300 cm

We know that

1 1 2 1 1 2
R 19.4 cm
s s R 10 cm 300 cm R
R 19.4 cm
f= 9.7 cm
2 2
(b) Lateral magnification M is given by
s1/ 300 cm
m1 = 30
s1 10 cm
y1/
So, 30 cm y1/ 30 (5mm) = 150 mm
y

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Outline: Chapter 34 Geometric Optics Dr. Rajanikanta Parida/ITER/SOA University

Example 34.9: Use ray diagrams to find the image position and magnification for an object at each of
the following distances from a converging lens with a focal length of 20 cm:
(a) 50 cm; (b) 20 cm; (c) 15 cm;
(d) Check your results by calculating the image position and lateral magnification
using the mathematical expression.
Solution:

(a) 1 1 1 1 1 1 s 33.33 cm
m= 0.667
f s s 20 cm 50 cm s s 50 cm
s 33.33 cm
s' is +ve, so the image is real and is in same
side of outgoing ray
m is ve, so the image is inverted
|m| < 1, so the image is diminished

(b) 1 1 1 1 1 1 s
m=
f s s 20 cm 20 cm s s 20 cm
s
Tthe imagewill be formed either at + or -

(c) 1 1 1

1

1

1 s 60 cm
f s s 20 cm 15 cm s m= 4
s 15 cm
s 60 cm
s' is - ve, so the image is virtual and is not
in same side of outgoing ray
m is + ve, so the image is erect
|m| > 1, so the image is magnified

(d) 1 1 1 1 1 1 s 13.3 cm
m= 0.33
f s s 20 cm 40 cm s s 40 cm
s 13.3 cm
s' is +ve, so the image is real and is in
same side of outgoing ray
m is +ve, so the image is erect
|m| < 1, so the image is diminished

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Outline: Chapter 34 Geometric Optics Dr. Rajanikanta Parida/ITER/SOA University

Assignment Problem
34.28: A converging lens with a focal length of 90 cm forms an image of a 3.2 cm tall real object that is
to the left of the lens. The image is 4.5 cm tall and inverted. Where are the object and image
located in relation to the lens? Is the image real or virtual?

Soln.: Given f = 90 cm, y = 4.5 cm, y = - 3.2 cm

y 4.5 cm
m= 1.406
y 3.2 cm
s
m = 1.406 s 1.406 s
s
From the lens formula, we have,

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2.406 1
+ = + = =
s s f s 1.406 s 90 cm s 1.406 90 cm
s = 154 cm
s' = 1.406 s = 1.406 154 cm = 217 cm
The object is 154 cm to the left of the lens.
The image is 217 cm to the right of the lens and is real (for a single lens an inverted image is
always real).

34.38. An object is 16.0 cm to the left of a lens. The lens forms an image 36.0 cm to the right of the lens.
(a) What is the focal length of the lens? Is the lens converging or diverging? (b) If the object is
8.00 mm tall, how tall is the image? Is it erect or inverted? (c) Draw a principal-ray diagram.

Solution:
(a) s =16.0 cm, s = +36.0 cm, f = ?
The sign of f determines whether the lens is converging or diverging.
1 1 1 1 1 1
+ = + =
s s f 16 cm 36 cm f
f = 11.1 cm
Since f > 0 and the lens is converging.

(b) y =8.0 mm, y = ?

Lateral magnification (m) is

s 36 cm
m= 2.25 cm
s 16 cm
Again the magnification is
y y
m= 2.25 y 18 mm
y 8 mm
m < 0 so the image is inverted.

(c) Principal-ray diagram is shown in the figure