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Light in Physics - Examples



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A series of free Online High School Physics Video Lessons.

In this lesson, we will learn

  • Physics Mirrors
  • Physics Lenses
  • Ray Diagrams
  • Lens Equation


Physics Mirrors

Physics mirrors are where light can be reflected and reconvened to form images. Two different types of mirror are concave and convex mirror with different properties. Two types of image formed by mirrors are real image and virtual image. Real image is formed when the light reconvenes and always inverted (i.e., upside down). Virtual image is formed when the light goes through and does not reconvene and is always erect (i.e., right side up).
How convex and concave mirrors work.
This video demonstrates and discusses ray diagrams for concave and convex mirrors.



Physics Lenses

Lenses are curved glasses or transparent materials. The focus of convex lenses is where rays parallel to principal axis go. The focus of the concave lenses is where rays parallel to principal come from. A converging lens looks fat in the middle. A diverging lens looks thin in the middle
How lenses work.
This lesson shows how to draw ray diagrams showing how light is refracted through convex lenses and demonstrates how to use the diagrams to determine size, position and nature of an image formed by a convex lens.


This video describes the nature, size and position of an image formed by a concave lens. The lesson also describes how lenses are used to help people with different eye conditions.

Ray Diagrams

All lenses and mirrors can use ray diagrams to find images. There are three principal rays. The first principal ray occurs when the light comes in parallel to the principle axis, it goes out through the focus. The second principal ray occurs when light comes in through the focus, then it comes out parallel to the principle axis. The third principal ray occurs when the light goes straight through the vertex without changing its direction
Drawing the ray diagrams for convex and concave lenses.


Convex Lens Ray Diagram Examples
Concave Lens Ray Diagram Examples
Explore Ray Diagrams by changing the focal length of the lens or the position of the object.


Lens Equation

The lens equation allows us to understand geometric optic in a quantitative way where 1/d0 + 1/di = 1/f.
The lens equation essentially states that the magnification of the object = − distance of the image over distance of the object.

The use of lens equation.
Ray tracing and lens equation explored with a converging lens


Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.
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