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School-college Physics Notes: Optics lenses 7. Concave lens - ray diversion

GCSE level Physics exam revision notes on OPTICS

Optics: Lenses: Part 7. Ray diagram for a concave lens showing the divergence of parallel rays

[Author © Dr Phil Brown PhD: Doc Brown's physics exam revision notes suitable for students of UK IGCSE & GCSE level physics courses, ~ US grades 9-10 physics [waves-lenses- page updated April 17th 2026 *]

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

See also 8. Ray diagram showing the formation of a virtual image by a concave lens

7. Ray diagram for a concave lens showing the divergence of parallel rays

  • Ray diagram 7a

  • showing the rays diverging when passing through a concave lens

  • 7a diverging concave lens

    • Here, refraction in a concave lens causes the rays to be diverged - spread out beyond the lens.

    • The parallel set of rays are effectively from an object an infinite distance from the concave lens.

    • Starting with a set of rays parallel to the principal axis, diverge them based on the point F the principal focus.

    • Then, when you extrapolate back from the divergent rays, all the dotted lines intersect at the principal focus point F.

    • The dotted lines are virtual rays (where the rays from the object appear to come from),

      • and all the dotted lines of the virtual rays meet up at a single point F.

    • The distance from point F to the centre of the lens is called the focal length (of this concave lens).

    • I emphasise that these dotted lines are called virtual rays because they indicate where the light rays from the object appear to come from - these dotted rays do NOT exist - its not reality!

 

See also 8. Ray diagram showing the formation of a virtual image by a concave lens

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

Be able to draw, interpret and explain the ray diagram for a concave lens showing the divergence of parallel rays.

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INDEX of physics optics notes on LENSES

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

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