Thin Lenses and Virtual Images

Introduction

In this experiment, you will investigate virtual images and examine two important applications of these images: the magnifying glass and the telescope. One of the many claims to fame of Galileo Galilei is his work refining the design of a refracting optical telescope. Telescopes use combinations of lenses to produce a magnified image.

Objectives

In this experiment, you will

• Use ray diagrams to show the formation of virtual images by concave and convex lenses.
• Contrast characteristics of real and virtual images.
• Examine the conditions under which a convex lens acts like a magnifying glass.
• Use a combination of lenses to form a telescope.