Images
Physics: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 6.5.5
Images Produced by a Lens
Convex lenses produce images that are either real or virtual. Concave lenses only produce virtual images.
Convex lenses
- Convex lenses produce images that are either real or virtual.
- A real image appears on the other side of the lens to the object. We can project real images onto a screen.
- A virtual image appears on the same side of the object. We cannot project virtual images onto a screen.
Magnification
- We can use this equation to calculate the magnification a lens produces:
- magnification = image height ÷ object height
- Magnification is a ratio. It has no units.
- We should measure the image’s height and object’s height in either mm or cm.
Concave lenses
- Concave lenses only produce virtual images.
- A virtual image appears on the same side of the object. We cannot project virtual images onto a screen.
Test yourself on Images
What type of image can we project on to a screen?
What are the units of magnification?