Understanding the Behavior of Light Rays Passing Through

Different Lenses
Chris Dominique D. Enriquez1 , Deus Lean B. Grafane2 , Kit Orlan Lemuel C. Nacion3*, Jennifer A.
Matabang4 , Marelle Anne Montalla5 , Dianne Joy Cathyrine V. Sanchez6 , Alethea Diana P. Villa7
1
Department of Industrial Engineering, CEAT UP Los Baos
2
Department of Electrical Engineering, CEAT, UP Los Baos
3
Department of Civil Engineering, CEAT UP Los Baos
4
Department of Industrial Engineering, CEAT, UP Los Baos
5
Department of Industrial Engineering, CEAT, UP Los Baos
6
Department of Civil Engineering, CEAT, Up Los Baos
7
Department of Industrial Engineering, CEAT, UP Los Baos
*Corresponding author:

Abstract
This experiment determined how light rays behave when it passes through
concave, convex, and hollow lenses. It showed how light rays depend on the
dimensions of the lens and the indexes of refraction of the lens and the
surrounding medium (i.e. air and water). The paths of the light rays after
passing through the lenses were traced. The point where they converge or
crossed was located to determine the focal length of the lenses by direct
measurement using ray tracing, and by measuring the radius of curvature
and using the Lensmakers equation.
Keywords: Lensmakers equation, hollow lens, converging

Introduction
1. Introduction
When parallel rays of light hit a lens and pass through it, the light that passed through the lens can
be diverging or converging depending on the type of the lens. There are many types of lenses which differs
in properties such as, shapes and index of refraction and the type of materials they are made up of. The
horizontal axis of the symmetrical lens is called principal axis. A converging lens causes the parallel rays
that pass through it to be converged. One of the examples of this type of lens is the convex lens. On the
other hand, diverging lens causes the parallel rays that pass through it to be diverged. An example of this
type of lens is a concave lens. Other types of lens include double convex lens a double concave lens. These
double lenses is symmetrical across both its horizontal and vertical axis [1].
The focal length of a lens can be determined by different methods. One of these methods is by ray
tracing. For a converging lenses, the point where the ray trace intersect is the focal point. The distance from
the focal point to the center of the lens is the focal length. On the other hand, for a diverging lens, the
transmitted rays are diverging, hence, the rays will not intersect beyond the lens. In this case, the
transmitted rays are extended back through the mirror until a point of intersection was obtained. The
distance from the point of intersection and the center of the lens is the focal length [2].
Another method to determine the focal length of a lens is by Lensmakers equation.

(3)
where n is the index of refraction of the lens, and R1 and R2 being the radius of the curvature of the
concave faces of the lens which is computed by multiplying the distance of the converging point of the
reflected rays from the center of the side of the lens where the light rays reflected by two [3].
Properties of the lens can affect the light being transmitted and reflected through it. These
properties are shape, index of refraction, and the index of refraction of the surrounding medium. In terms of
shape, a convex lens can cause the transmitted rays to be convergent while concave lens can cause the

transmitted rays to be divergent. On the other hand, when the two objects are made up of different type
materials, refraction can occur.
In this experiment, the focal lengths of the convex and concave lenses will be determined. It will
be also determined how the properties of a lens are related to its shape, index of refraction, and index of
refraction of the surrounding material. Furthermore, the focal length of a concave lens will be determined
using the two methods discussed: by ray tracing and by using the Lensmakers equation.

Methodology
For this experiment, the following materials were utilized: light source, convex lens from ray
optics kit, concave lens from ray optics kit, hollow lens from ray optics kit, box from ray optics kit (with
lenses and foam insert removed), water, paper towels, white paper, white plastic sheet from ray optics kit,
small weight (to stop lens from floating), and a metric ruler.
Part 1:
The light source in ray-box mode was placed on top of a white sheet of paper. The wheel was
turned to select the three parallel rays. The rays were then shone straight to the convex lens as in Figure 1.a.
The surface of the lens and the incident and transmitted rays were traced, indicating the incoming and
outgoing rays with arrows in the appropriate directions. The focal length from the center of the lens to the
focal point was measured and was recorded in Table 1.

(b)

Figure 2. Setup for determining path of light rays through lens and combination of lenses

The procedure was repeated with the concave lens, noting that the rays leaving the lens are
diverging and do not cross. Using a ruler, the outgoing rays were extended straight back through the lens.
The focal length was recorded as a negative number.
The convex and concave mirror were nested together and placed in the path of the parallel rays as
shown in figure 1.b. Then, the rays were traced. The convex and concave lenses were slid apart a few
centimeters and the effect was observed. The order of the lenses was reversed and one of the patterns was
traced.
Part 2:
Before testing the hollow lens, predictions whether the incoming parallel rays will converge or
diverge after passing through the lens were made for every configuration in Table 2. The predictions were
recorded in Table 2. Turning the wheel to select the five parallel rays, the light source in ray-box mode was
placed on a white sheet of paper.
Section 1 of the hollow lens was filled with water and placed in front of the light source with the
parallel rays entering through the flat side. The observation was recorded in Table 2. The procedure was
repeated in the different sections of the lens.
A white plastic sheet was placed in the transparent ray-optics box. The hollow lens was positioned
on top of the sheet with a small weight on top to prohibit mobility as in Figure 2. The light source was
placed outside the box so that rays enter the hollow lens through the flat side. The box was filled with water
to just below the top of the lens. Sections 2 and 3 of the lens were filled with water (leaving section 1
filled with air). The observation was recorded in Table 2. The procedure was repeated with air in different
sections of the lens.

Figure 3. Hollow lens setup

Part 3:
The light source in ray-box mode was placed on top of a white sheet of paper. The wheel was
turned to select the three parallel rays. The rays were shone straight to the concave lens. The surface of the
lens, the incident rays, and transmitted rays were then traced, indicating the incoming and outgoing rays in
the appropriate directions. The lens was removed. A ruler was used to extend the outgoing diverging rays
straight back through the lens. The distance from the intersection of the extended rays (focal point) to the
center of the lens was measured and recorded in Table 3 as a negative value.

(b)
Figure 4. Setup for measurement of focal length

To determine the radius of curvature, the concave lens was placed back in the path of the rays and
the faint reflected rays off the first surface of the lens were observed. The surface of the lens was traced and
the point where the central ray hits the surface was marked. The central ray was blocked and the point
where the two outer rays cross was marked. The distance from the lens surface to the point where the
reflected rays cross was then measured, doubled, and recorded in Table 3 as the radius of curvature R.
Using the lensmakers equation,

1
1
1
=(n1)( ) , and noting that R1 = R2 = R (radius
f
R1 R 2

of curvature recorded in Table 3), the index of refraction n of the acrylic lens is 1.5, and the radius of
curvature of the concave surface has a negative value, the focal length was calculated. Finally, the percent
difference of the two values (experimental and theoretical) was obtained and recorded in Table 3.

Results and Discussion

It can be observed from the nested concave and convex lens set-up that the outgoing rays are
parallel. This means that the focal lengths of the two lenses are equal or they are found at the same point. If
the set-up is then changed such that a certain distance is put between the lenses and this distance is
increased, the distance of the image produced to the nearest lens of the set-up decreases. Changing their
positions meant that the rays diverged in the middle of the two lenses and converged somewhat but still
intersect at one point after passing through the second lens.

In a plano-convex lens, normally the light rays would converge, but it was found out in the
experiment that if the light ray receiving part (entrance) of the convex lens is filled with water and all other
parts of the set-up are filled with air, the light rays are converging.

The same is true for when the light ray emitting part (exit) of the convex lens is filled up with
water whilst all other parts are again filled with air and when the plane part of the plano-convex lens is
filled with air whilst all other parts are filled with water.

It was also found that when the plane part of the plano-convex lens was filled with water and all
other parts of the set-up are filled with air, the light rays are diverging.

This is also true for when the light ray receiving part (entrance) of the set-up is filled with air
whilst all other parts are filled with water and when the light ray emitting part (exit) of the convex lens is
filled with air and all other parts are filled with water.

Note that the set-up in which the plane part of the plano-convex lens and the light ray emitting part
(exit) of the convex lens are filled with water and all other parts of set-up are filled with air, the light rays
emitted neither converge nor diverge. Instead, they are parallel.

All of this is due to the differences in the index of refraction.

On another note, it is possible to predict whether or not a plano-concave lens of an unknown
material that is a diverging lens when surrounded by air is converging or diverging when placed in water. If
the pattern exhibited by the experiment holds for plano-concave lens as well, given that the water is always
outside of the plano-concave lens and air is always inside the plano-concave lens, the light rays would
converge.
Based on the Lensmaker Equation,

1
1
1
=( n1 )

f
R1 R2

Increasing the value for R1 increases the focal length of a double concave lens whilst increasing
the value of R2 decreases the focal length of a double concave lens. Going by these observations, farsighted people need to have convex correctional lenses whilst near-sighted people need to have concave
correctional lenses.
Results and Discussion
Table 11.1. Focal length of concave and convex lens.
Convex
Concave
Focal length
13.5cm
-9.3cm

Transmitted rays

Incident rays

Transmitted rays

Incident rays

Figure 11.5. Illustration of the light rays passing through the

combination of (a) double convex- double concave lenses and (b)
double concave- double convex lenses.

The second part of the experiment illustrates how the index of refraction of the surrounding medium,
the shape and the index of refraction of a lens is related to the properties of a lens. The lens used in the
experiment is shown in figure 11.2. The table below shows the observations on whether the light rays are
converging or diverging upon passing through different lenses surrounded by a certain medium.

Lens
Surrounded by
Air

Water

Table 11.2. Observations of light rays passing through the lens.

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
filled with
filled with
filled with
Water
Air
Air
Air
Water
Air
Air
Air
Water
Water
Air
Water
Air
Water
Water
Water
Air
Water
Water
Water
Air

Observation
(converging/diverging)
Diverging
Converging
Converging
Diverging
Converging
Diverging
Diverging

Basically, the light rays are converging on a convex lenses and diverging on concave lenses, given that
the index of refraction of the lens is greater compared to that of its surrounding medium [4]. From the table
above, it shows that when the lens is surrounded by air, the light rays, passing through the section of the
lens wherein water is present, follow the above statement. For instance, a lens with water in section 1 (a
concave lens) and surrounded by air transmitted diverging light rays, while in the next two cases wherein
only section 2 is filled with water and the other wherein only section 3 is filled with water, the lens
transmitted converging light rays. This can be explained by the index of refraction of both the lens and the
surrounding medium, and also the shape of the section where the water is filled. The light passes through
the water. The index of refraction of the water is greater than the index of refraction of air. Therefore, the
section wherein water is filled will make that section to function as a lens which follows that: concave and
convex lenses transmit light rays which are diverging and converging, respectively. Same concepts apply to
the other set-ups that is surrounded by air. In the case of section 1 and 3 filled with water, the observed
transmitted light rays are diverging. On the section 1, it acts as the lens which is convex. The transmitted

Focal length
light will
Measured directly
from ray tracing

52mm or .052m

Percent
Difference

be

0.48%

Calculated using
---------------------------------------Lensmakers
51.75mm or .
---equation
0575m
converging. Upon passing through the 3rd section (a concave lens) which is surrounded by air and filled
with water, the transmitted light is diverging.
On the part wherein the medium used to surround the lens is water, the previous concept does not apply
anymore. Instead, the second opposite concept applies: the light rays are converging on concave lenses and
diverging on convex lenses, given that the index of refraction of the lens is less compared to that of its
surrounding medium. The index of refraction of water, as stated previously, is greater than that of the air, so
the direction of the light rays passing from air to water follow this second concept. Going back to the table,
a lens with water filled in the second and third section surrounded by water transmitted converging light
rays. Since the first section (a concave lens) was filled only by air, the light converged instead of diverging
because of its movement from a material with a lower index of refraction to a medium of higher index of
refraction. The next two cases transmitted diverging light rays since the section filled with air is only the
second section, and third section only on the other case, which are both convex lenses. When the planoconcave lens is made of an unknown material, predictions cannot be made. Since the one of the conditions
compare their index of refraction, prediction whether a diverging or converging rays will be obtained is not
possible. Both indexes of refraction should be known, hence the composition of the material must be also
known.
Table 10.3 Measured focal length of concave lens

Radius: 103.5mm/0.1035

Illustration of a concave glass hit with rays

When rays of light are directed to a concave glass, reflection of light and refraction of light happens
depending on the nature of the medium hit by light. Since the medium hit by light is an acrylic glass,

reflection and refraction of light is possible. Reflection of light happens when light is reflected back where
the angle of incidence and angle of reflection is equal. On the other Refraction happens when there is a
bending of light as light passes from one medium to different medium (ex. Air to water or air to glass.). In
every medium where refraction is possible, they have intrinsic property called index of refraction which is
defined as the ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum and velocity of light in the given medium (1).
n=c/m

(1)

In the equation, n is the index of refraction, c is the velocity of light in vacuum and m is the velocity of
light in the given vacuum. In the exercise the index of the medium which is an acrylic lens is given by 1.5.
The acrylic lens is a concave glass and when rays of light pass through the lens, it gives reflected
and refracted light. When two parallel rays are directed perpendicular to the medium like on the illustration
but disregarding the center light ray, it the reflects back two rays that intersect. The point of intersection is
called focal point and the distance of it from the origin of the circle formed from the arc is half of the radius
of the circle. A Lensmakers formula is used in order to compute the distance of f(distance of the focal point
from the origin of the circle) and the formula is given by
1/f=(n-1)(1/R1-1/R2)

(2)

where n is the index or refraction and R 1 and R2 are the radius of the circle from the given arc of the
concave material (2). In the experiment, the actual distance of the focal point from the origin of the circle is
52mm or .052m while the calculated distance using the Lensmakers formula is 51.75mm or .05175m. The
percent difference of the from the result using the percent formula which is
|actual value-computed
value/computed value| x 100 is 0.48 percent%.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Light has the ability to go through lenses, and depending in the lens, the resulting light should
have a formation. In the experiment, both a convex lens and a concave lens were used simultaneously;
hence, instead of having a concentrated light or well scattered light rays, the outcome ended up with
parallel rays. However once done separately, a concave lens would result into the light ray scattering and a
convex lens would result into a concentrated point where all the light rays converge. Finally for the last
part, the Lensmakers equation was utilized to derive the percent difference between the experimental value
and the theoretical value of the focal length. Regardless of the results, additional measures could have been
implemented in order to gain a more accurate data (e.g more accurate equipment).
4 References:
1 Index of Refraction. (n.d.). Hyperphysics. Retrieved from : hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/refr.html
2. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, 10th ed., Chapter 34, Hoboken, NJ, 2014
3. No Author, Lensmakers equation, Retrieved from http://www.hyperphysics.phy-astr.psu
4. H. Young, A. Freedman, University Physics, 13th ed., Chapter 34, Pearson Education, Inc., San
Francisco, CA, 2012