You are on page 1of 2

10 Simple Optical instruments

The Lens Camera


1. The Lens camera consists of a light – tight box with a convex lens on one side and
film on the other.
2. The image produced by a camera is real, inverted and smaller.
3. The image is formed between F and 2F as the object is usually beyond 2F.
4. Focusing: A camera can be focused by moving the lens. If an object comes nearer to
the camera then the image will move further away. So to keep the image focused on
the film, the lens must be moved further out.
5. The shutter: The amount of light that enters the camera can be controlling the length
of time the shutter is open. For very was objects, if the shutter is too long, it will
appear blurred.
6. The aperture stop or the diaphragm: The amount of light entering the camera can also
be controlled by varying the size of the hole in the diaphragm which is just behind the
lens. In dim light the hole needs to be larger. The controls which vary the size of the
hole are marked as f-numbers. A value of f/8 means that the hole is /8th the focal
length. A value of 1/11 is smaller.
7. You can also control the depth of focus by varying the size of the hole. A large depth
of focus means that both near and far objects will appear focused at the same time.
This obtained by having a small hole in the diaphragm.
8. The film: The film is coated with special light sensitive chemicals. The chemicals are
changed by the light of the image. A fast film is more sensitive than a slow film. They
can be used during dim light and when objects are moving very fast. However, they
don’t have as good quality as a slow film.
9. When setting the controls you should consider:
a. The brightness of the object- aperture setting + exposure time+ speed of film
b. The effect you want – Film and aperture setting (depth of focus)
c. The sensitivity or speed of the object – shutter speed, film

The Projector
10. The projector contains a lamp and a concave mirror to
make the image brighter. The lamp is put at C of the mirror
so that the rays are reflected along its own path.
11. To give a brighter picture, a condenser is used. It is usually
made of two Plano-convex lenses. Now the light is
converging towards the film and the film is illuminated
both brightly and evenly.
12. The light is then scattered by the film and focused by a
convex projection lens on to the screen.
13. The Film is placed in F and 2F of the projection lens so that
the image is inverted, real and magnified as it forms
beyond 2F.
14. The film is put upside down in the projector so it can be
seen normally.
Magnifying Glass

15. The apparent size of an object depends on the actual size and its distance from the
eye.
16. An object close by seems larger than an object further away because it encloses a
larger angle at your eye than a distant object, as a result the image on the retina is
bigger making them appear bigger.
17. A convex lens acts as a magnifying glass if the object is placed between F and C. The
image is virtual, upright and magnified because the angle image the makes at your
eye is larger than the angle the object makes without the magnifying glass.
18. The thicker the convex lens, the shorter its focal length the more it magnifies.
19. However if too thick distorts the image.

Questions
1. A close object because if a object is brought nearer to the camera, the image is further
away. So it keep the image focused on the film, the lens is moved further out.
2. a. it would be larger, less bright and less clear.
b. It must be moved further in closer to the slide.
3. a. The lens with the focal length of 4cm
b. 8 cm from the lens, upright and virtual magnified by 2

You might also like