Describe how you would determine the focal length of a converging lens, using a plane mirror and one pin. Draw a ray diagram to illustrate your answer.
Describe how you would determine the focal length of a converging lens, using a plane mirror and one pin. Draw a ray diagram to illustrate your answer.
To determine focal length of a converging lens, by using plane mirror we need a vertical stand, a plane mirror, a lens and a pin.
Place the lens L on a plane mirror MM’ horizontally. Arrange a pin P on the clamp of a vertical stand such that the tip of pin is vertically above the centre O of the lens.
Adjust the height of the pin until it has no parallax (i.e., when the pin and its image shift together) with its inverted image as seen from vertically above the pin.
Now measure the distance x of the pin from the lens and the distance y of the pin from the mirror, using a metre scale and a plumb line. Calculate the average of the two distances. This gives the focal length of the lens, i.e.,
F = (x+y)2
To determine focal length of a converging lens, by using plane mirror we need a vertical stand, a plane mirror, a lens and a pin.
Place the lens L on a plane mirror MM’ horizontally. Arrange a pin P on the clamp of a vertical stand such that the tip of pin is vertically above the centre O of the lens.
Adjust the height of the pin until it has no parallax (i.e., when the pin and its image shift together) with its inverted image as seen from vertically above the pin.
Now measure the distance x of the pin from the lens and the distance y of the pin from the mirror, using a metre scale and a plumb line. Calculate the average of the two distances. This gives the focal length of the lens, i.e.,
F = (x+y)2
