CONVEX LENS EXPERIMENT

PURPOSE: To find the focal length of a lens by two different methods (Part 1 and Part 2).

MATERIALS:

convex lens candle & base support for screen

white cardboard (screen) 2 supports for meter stick

meter stick support for lens

PROCEDURE, PART 1: First, remove all books and other things from your desk. To find the focal length of your lens, set up your equipment as shown in the diagram. Go to a dark corner of the room, and aim the device at a window. Focus your image on the screen by sliding the screen back and forth. Try to focus on an object that is as far away as possible (a tree, etc.). In Table 1, record the distance between the lens and the screen. This is your first measurement of the lens Focal Length. In the same table, also calculate the values of 2.5f, 2f, 1.5f and 0.5f. These distances will be used later.

PROCEDURE, PART 2: We will now find the Focal Length of the lens by a second method. Instead of focusing on an object that is really far away, you will focus on a candle flame that is quite close. In a dark corner of the room, set up your equipment as shown in the diagram. Place the light source at a distance of 2.5f from the lens. Now move the screen until a sharp picture of the flame appears. In Table 2, record the distance between the screen and the lens, the distance between the light source and the lens, and also describe what kind of image you see (magnified, inverted.). Repeat what you just did, but with the light source now placed at a distance of 2f from the lens. Fill in Table 2 as before. Keep going, with the distances of 1.5f and 0.5f. Put your equipment away before continuing with the calculations. The calculations will give you your second estimate of the focal length of the lens.

DATA TABLE 1: Focal Length, f (cm) 2.5 f (cm) 2 f (cm) 1.5 f (cm) 0.5 f (cm)

DATA TABLE 2:

Object at 2.5f from lens do (cm) di (cm) Magnified / Reduced? Upright / Inverted?

Object at 2f from lens

Object at 1.5f from lens

Object at 0.5f from lens

CALCULATIONS: 1. To find the Focal Length from Procedure 2, we need to use the equation to the right. We have 4 sets of data, so we can calculate the Focal Length 4 times and then calculate the average (for greater accuracy). Fill in the table below as part of your calculations

1 1 1 = + f di do

Focal length calculated from the 2.5f setup (cm)

Focal length calculated from the 2f setup (cm)

Focal length calculated from the 1.5f setup (cm)

Focal length calculated from the 0.5f setup (cm)

Average:

2. Calculate the % difference between the Focal Length from Procedure 1 and the average Focal Length from Procedure 2.

%error =

measured value - actual value x 100% actual value

LAB REPORT: Dont hand in this sheet. On your own paper, Make a Heading called DATA and copy the tables from this paper. Then make a Heading called CALCULATIONS, and do your work there. It is critical that you explain what youre doing, showing all steps in your calculations and underlining your answers. Under the heading CONCLUSIONS, you will write a statement comparing your two values for Focal Length. Compare the answer you got from Procedure 1 with the answer you got from Procedure 2. In your opinion, were they close (considering the accuracy limits of the experiment). Also comment on what you should do different if you wanted better results. Hand in one report per group. It must be impeccably neat, or it wont be marked.