1

IMAGE AND OBJECT RELATIONSHIPS FOR A CONVERGING LENS

Name
PHYS-226-LAB-A
April 11, 2024

Introduction
This experiment aims to determine numerically what the focal length is, how the convex lens
(+100 mm) affects the size of the object, and the relationship between the size of the object
and the focal length.
Procedure
Part 1: Finding the Focal Length
Place two rulers end to end. Put the light source on one end of the ruler and the screen on the
other end. Place the +100 mm lens in the lens holder. Place the lens holder 10 cm away from
the screen. This way the lens holder will be positioned approximately two meters away from
the light source. Turn on the light source and slide the lens holder to the position on the
screen where the crosshair is clearest. This position is the focal length point. Turn the light
source off and inspect the arrows on it. Is the vertical arrow pointing up or down? Is the
horizontal arrow pointing left or right? Measure the height of the vertical bar, h o, and record
it.
Part 2: Measure the Object Distance, d o , and the Image Distance, d i
Only one ruler will be used for this cut. Position the light source at one end of the ruler. Place
the lens holder 6 cm away from the light source. Place the screen anywhere on the ruler after
the lens holder. After turning on the light source, change the position of the screen and try to
find the point where the plus (+) sign on the screen is focused. Did you find it? Repeat the
same procedure by positioning the lens holder where indicated in the table and making the
measurements indicated in the table. Measurements will be made with an accuracy of 0.1 cm.
Data, Calculations, & Results
Part 1
f =9.7 cm
The vertical arrow on the light source is up, horizontal arrow is to the right.
h o=2.0 cm

Part 2
No focusing spot was observed on the screen when the lens holder was 6 cm away from the
light source.
hi
|M |=
ho
 2

5.0 cm
M= =2.5
2.0 cm
Since the position of the object is out of the focal point, the magnification is going to have
negative values.
d o (cm) d i(cm) hi (cm) M
14.0 33.8 5.0 -2.5
18.0 24.0 2.5 -1.25
22.0 17.0 1.5 -0.75
26.0 16.2 1.3 -0.65
30.0 6.0 1.0 -0.5
34.0 13.5 0.8 -0.4
38.0 12.5 0.6 -0.3

40

35

30
f(x) = − 22.2354046848021 ln(x) + 88.8635745958525
25

20
𝑑_𝑖

15

10

0
10 15 20 25 30 35 40
𝑑_o

The graph demonstrates that d i values decrease exponentially with the increase of d o values.

Inverse d o (cm) Inverse d i(cm)

0.071 0.030
0.056 0.042
0.045 0.059
0.038 0.062
0.033 0.167
0.029 0.074
 3

Inverse
0.18

0.16

0.14

0.12

0.1 f(x) = − 2.04683451046271 x + 0.165441965443486

𝑑_𝑜

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04 0.045 0.05 0.055 0.06 0.065 0.07 0.075
𝑑_i

Slope = -2.0468
y-intercept = 0.1654
f = 1/ y intercept
1 −1 1
lens equation: = +
di do f

Questions
1. Revisit your predictions about how d i and hi will change as d o is increased. Were
you correct? Explain using the data in Table 1.
d iand hi gradually decrease while d o increasing. We had foreseen this to be the case. As the
d o increases, we expect the focus point to come forward more and more, because a convex
lens is used. In the same way, hi also decreases, because as the lens moves away, it gradually
reduces the magnification rate of the object.
2. Use the thin lens equation to predict d i for d o = 50.0 cm. Use the equipment to
measure the value of d i and calculate the percent error. Show your work!
1 −1 1
= +
di do f

1 −1 1
= +
d i 50 9.7

1
=0.083
di

|12.03−11.2|
% difference= ∗100=9.14 %
12.03
 4

3. Compare the values of d i and d o to M. Can M be calculated using d i and d o ?

Justify your answer by developing an equation for M using the data in Table 1.
di hi d
ratio of =ratio of . So, yes we can calculate M using d o ∧d i. M = i
do ho do

4. Using the equation from the previous question, predict the magnification when
d o = 50.0 cm. Use the equipment to measure hi and calculate the actual M.
Compare it to your prediction and calculate the percent error. Show your work!
d i 0.5
Real value  M = = =0.25
do 2
hi 11.2
Measured value  M = = =0.22
ho 50

|0.25−0.22|
% difference= ∗100=12 %
0.25

5. You have developed two important equations for a converging lens from the
measurements and analysis. The thin lines equation: 1/f = 1/d o + 1/d i and the
magnification equation: M = d i/d o . These equations can be combined to make a
third equation relating d i, f, and M. Use algebra to create this equation. Show
your work!
di
M= d o =M /d i
do
1 M +1
1/f = 1/d o + 1/d i  =
f di

6. Create a graph with d i on the vertical axis and M on the horizontal axis. Use the
resulting straight line to find the focal length of the lens. Show your work!
di 33.8
f= = =9.65
M +1 2.5+1
 5

40

35
f(x) = 10.8424878836834 x + 7.73574313408724
30

25

20
di

15

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
M

Conclusion
In Part 1, f and its values were found experimentally for use in Part 2. Although the first
graph obtained in Part 2 does not take exactly exponential values, it is seen that the collected
values follow an exponential path. values decrease exponentially as they increase. A new
formula for the value of M has been established. The new formula is close to the real value
with a low error rate. At the same time, the value of f found with the new equation for the
converging lens is very close to the value found in part 1. This shows the accuracy of the new
equation.