Click on a lens to show its location and focal length. Click on the object to show location of it and all images. Click and drag to move a lens, object, or screen. For any of the experiments, click the button to reset parameters to the initial conditions.
| Drag the lens to find positions at which a sharp image forms on the screen. How many lens positions give a focused image on the screen? Is this true for all screen positions? |
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| The magnifying glass forms a virtual image from the object. Your eye lens uses this virutal image to from a real object on your retina. Eye is shown as a red box, lens on left side, retina on right side. | |
| The objective lens forms a real image of a nearby object. The eyepiece lens uses this real image as its object. It forms a virtual image. Your eye lens uses this virtual image as its object. It forms a real image on your retina. Eye lens and retina are not shown. |
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| The objective lens forms a real image of a distant object. The eypeiece lens uses this real image as its object. It forms a virtual image. Your eye lens uses this virtual image as its object. It forms a real image on your retina. Eye lens and retina are not shown. |
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Guide to the Optics Bench
Elements can be added to the optics bench by clicking on the appropriate button and then clicking inside the applet at the desired location.
Beam - adds a beam of parallel light rays. The angle of the light rays can be changed by dragging the hotspot after clicking on the beam.
Object - adds an arrow as an object. A ray diagram is drawn for the object if an optical element is present.
Source - adds a point source of light. The spread of the light ways can be adjusted by dragging the hotspot after clicking on the source.
Lens - adds a lens to the optics bench. The focal point can be adjusted by dragging the hotspots after clicking on the lens. The lens can be made either converging or diverging by adjusting the focal length.
Mirror - adds a mirror to the optics bench. The focal point can be adjusted by dragging the hotspots after clicking on the mirror. The mirror can be made either convex or concave by adjusting the focal length.
Aperture - adds a partial blockage of light rays. The width of the opening can be adjusted by dragging the hotspots after clicking on the aperture.
Physlet by Wolfgang Christian and Melissa Dancy