Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 25 - Optical Instruments - Questions - Page 738: 12

Answer

The curved surface of the planoconvex lens should face the object.

Work Step by Step

The curved surface of the planoconvex lens should face the object. See the ray diagram. The two diagrams on the left, where the flat side faces the object, shows what NOT to do. If a ray come in parallel to the optical axis, then at the flat surface, the angle of incidence is zero and no bending occurs at all. All the bending happens at the second surface, which surely does not achieve the goal of rays being bent equally by the 2 surfaces. The situation is even clearer when the incident ray comes in but is not parallel to the axis (lower left diagram). Then, at the flat surface, light bends away from the axis, but it is toward the axis at the second interface. Once again, this surely does not achieve the goal of rays being bent equally by the 2 surfaces. The 2 ray diagrams on the right show how the bending performed by the two surfaces is much more similar when the curved surface faces the object. In summary, the curved surface of the planoconvex lens should face the object.
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