Physic Labs

Problem 3

A thin converging lens has focal length f>0f>0. A planar object perpendicular to the principal axis is placed a distance 3f3f from the lens. Using the thin-lens model and the convention that real images have positive image distance, find the signed image distance vv, lateral magnification mm, and describe the image. Use the stated signed-distance convention and assume a sufficiently small object so the paraxial approximation applies. (a) Determine the image position from the conjugate equation. (b) Calculate the magnification and image height if the object height is HH. (c) Decide whether the image is real or virtual and upright or inverted, and check the dimensional consistency.
u=3f,1f=1u+1vu=3f,\qquad \frac{1}{f}=\frac{1}{u}+\frac{1}{v}
problems.proof.analysis

The object distance is u=3fu=3f. With real image distance positive, the thin-lens equation is 1/f=1/u+1/v1/f=1/u+1/v.