GCSE Science | Lenses

What is the focal point?

  • the point at which rays or waves meet after reflection or refraction, or the point from which diverging rays or waves appear to proceed.

What is focal length?

  • The distance from the lens to the principal focus is called the focal length

What is a concave lense?

  • caves inwards
  • thinner at the centre and thicker at the ends
  • parallel rays of light are made to diverge (spread out) from a point
  • also called a diverging lens
  • usually used to magnify an image

What is a convex lense?

  • thicker at the centre and thinner at the ends
  • parallel rays of light are made to diverge (spread out) from a point
  • also called a converging lens
  • usually used to magnify an image

Images

  • real (can be seen behind the lens) or virtual (cannot be seen behind the lens)
  • upright or inverted
  • magnified or diminished