An object is 16.0 cm to the left of a lens. The lens forms an 36.0 cm to the right of the lens. (c) Draw a principal-ray diagram.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the type of lens being used. Since the image is formed on the opposite side of the object and is real (as indicated by the positive image distance), the lens is a converging lens.
2. Locate the object, lens, and image on a horizontal line. Mark the object 16.0 cm to the left of the lens. Since left of the lens is typically considered negative, this is at -16.0 cm.
3. Mark the image 36.0 cm to the right of the lens. Since right of the lens is considered positive, this is at +36.0 cm.
4. Draw the principal rays to locate the image accurately: (1) A ray parallel to the principal axis from the object to the lens, which refracts through the focal point on the opposite side. (2) A ray through the center of the lens, which continues in a straight line. (3) A ray through the focal point on the object side, which refracts parallel to the principal axis on the other side.
5. Verify the ray diagram by ensuring that all refracted rays (or their backward extensions) intersect at the image point, confirming the image location and characteristics (real, inverted, and magnified).

Key Concepts

Lens Types

Lenses can be classified into two main types: converging (convex) and diverging (concave). Converging lenses focus parallel rays of light to a point, while diverging lenses spread out light rays. Understanding the type of lens is crucial for predicting how it will manipulate light and form images.

Ray Diagrams

Ray diagrams are visual representations used to illustrate how light rays interact with lenses. They typically include principal rays such as the parallel ray, the focal ray, and the central ray. These diagrams help in determining the position, size, and nature (real or virtual) of the image formed by the lens.

Image Formation

Image formation by lenses involves the relationship between object distance, image distance, and focal length, described by the lens formula (1/f = 1/do + 1/di). The nature of the image (real or virtual, upright or inverted) depends on the object's position relative to the lens's focal point. Understanding this relationship is essential for accurately drawing ray diagrams.