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 Physics Notes: Optics lenses 1. Reminders of light and transparent objects

GCSE level Physics exam revision notes on OPTICS

Optics: lenses: Part 1. Reminders of what happens when light rays pass through different shaped transparent objects

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INDEX of notes on optics: lens types, properties, correcting eye defects

1. Reminders of what happens when light rays pass through different shaped transparent objects

  • 1. No refraction when a light ray strikes a different medium at 90o to the surface i.e. 'down' the normal.

    • The same applies to 3 and 4 for the central ray in the diagram.

    • Most light is transmitted, but a little light can be reflected, especially if the incident angle is >90o.

  • 2. Double refraction through a rectangular glass block at the air/glass interfaces, note that when the ray emerges back into air its path is parallel to the original incident ray.

  • 3. Refraction of two rays at the two surfaces of a diverging concave lens (this page), the central ray passes straight on.

    • Remember for 3, to 5. for each pair of angles, those of incidence and refraction are different.

  • 4. Refraction of two rays at two of the surfaces of a triangular glass or plastic prism.

  • 5. Refraction of two rays at the two surfaces of converging concave lens (this page).

  • Note that 4 is effectively what happens at the top end of the convex lens 5 - two refractions, one at each of the air/glass boundaries.

Information sources for Doc Brown's key points: IGCSE-GCSE physics are based on textbooks & syllabus-specifications for students taking the UK AQA, Edexcel, OCR 21st Century Science, OCR Gateway science suite, WJEC, CCEA and CIE GCSE physics 9-1 level science examinations

Keywords, phrases and learning objectives for properties and uses of lenses

Know what happens to light rays when they pass through different shaped transparent objects e.g. glass block, 60o triangular prism, concave lens, convex lens.

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INDEX of physics optics notes on LENSES

INDEX of all notes on waves, radiation, astronomy etc.

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