Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

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

Chapter 23 - Light: Geometric Optics - General Problems - Page 677: 88

Answer

$50\;\rm cm$

Work Step by Step

We know that the distance between the two lenses is 30 cm and the right lens has a 20 cm focal distance while the left one has a 15 cm focal distance. See the figure below. The final image which is the image of the right lens is in the middle between the two lenses. Thus, $d_{i,\rm right}=15\rm\;cm$. Now we need to find the image of the left lens which is the object of the right lens. $$\dfrac{1}{f_{\rm right}}=\dfrac{1}{d_{o,\rm right}}+\dfrac{1}{d_{i,\rm right}}$$ Solving for $d_{o,\rm right}$; $$\dfrac{1}{f_{\rm right}}-\dfrac{1}{d_{i,\rm right}}=\dfrac{1}{d_{o,\rm right}}$$ $$d_{o,\rm right}=\left[\dfrac{1}{f_{\rm right}}-\dfrac{1}{d_{i,\rm right}}\right]^{-1}$$ Plugging the known; $$d_{o,\rm right}=\left[\dfrac{1}{ 20}-\dfrac{1}{-15}\right]^{-1}=\bf 8.57 \;\rm cm$$ This means that the image of the left lens is given by $$d_{i,\rm left}=30-8.57 =\bf 21.43\;\rm cm$$ Now we have the focal length of the left lens, and the image distance of it, and we just need to find the object distance. $$\dfrac{1}{f_{\rm left}}=\dfrac{1}{d_{o,\rm left}}+\dfrac{1}{d_{i,\rm left}}$$ Solving for $d_{o,\rm left}$; $$\dfrac{1}{f_{\rm left}}-\dfrac{1}{d_{i,\rm left}}=\dfrac{1}{d_{o,\rm left}} $$ $$\dfrac{1}{f_{\rm left}}-\dfrac{1}{d_{i,\rm left}}=\dfrac{1}{d_{o,\rm left}} $$ $$d_{o,\rm left} =\left[\dfrac{1}{f_{\rm left}}-\dfrac{1}{d_{i,\rm left}}\right]^{-1} $$ Plugging the known; $$d_{o,\rm left} =\left[\dfrac{1}{15}-\dfrac{1}{21.43}\right]^{-1} =\color{red}{\bf 50}\;\rm cm $$
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