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Difference between revisions of "Focal Length"

(About Focal Length)
 
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*[[Focus]] the [[image]] of a "distant object" onto a [[screen]].
 
*[[Focus]] the [[image]] of a "distant object" onto a [[screen]].
 
*[[Measure]] the [[distance]] between the [[lens]] and the [[screen]].
 
*[[Measure]] the [[distance]] between the [[lens]] and the [[screen]].
: The [[Image Distance|image distance]] (the distance between the [[focus]]sed [[image]] and the [[lens]]) is the same as the [[Focal Length|focal length]] for a "distant object".
+
 
: If the [[Object Distance|object distance]] (the distance between an [[object]] and a [[lens]]) is too small, then the [[Focal Length|focal length]] is not the same as the [[Image Distance|image distance]].
+
The [[Image Distance|image distance]] (the distance between the [[focus]]sed [[image]] and the [[lens]]) is the same as the [[Focal Length|focal length]] for a "distant object".
 +
 
 +
If the [[Object Distance|object distance]] (the distance between an [[object]] and a [[lens]]) is too small, then the [[Focal Length|focal length]] is not the same as the [[Image Distance|image distance]].
  
 
===References===
 
===References===

Latest revision as of 08:26, 19 December 2019

Key Stage 4 Higher

Meaning

The focal length of a lens is the distance between the lens and the focussed image of a "distant object".

About Focal Length

ConvexLensFocalPoint.png
A convex lens focuses parallel rays to a focal point.
The focal length of a convex lens is the distance between the focal point and the centre of the lens.
FocalLength.png
A diagram showing how to find the focal length of a convex lens.

To find the Focal Length of a convex lens:

The image distance (the distance between the focussed image and the lens) is the same as the focal length for a "distant object".

If the object distance (the distance between an object and a lens) is too small, then the focal length is not the same as the image distance.

References

AQA

Focal length, page 204, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
Focal length, page 82, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Focal length, pages 208-211, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Focal length, pages 266, 267, 272, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA

Edexcel

Focal length, pages 119, 121, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Focal length, pages 162, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR