A diverging lens is said to have negative focal length and causes exiting rays to be more divergent coming out

than they were entering the lens. It can form a real image or a virtual image of a real object. Only when the object is a distance from the lens greater than the focal length will a real image be formed. It also always forms virtual images of real objects. Only when incident rays are very convergent entering a negative lens (convergent toward a point somewhere between the lens and the focal point on the far side of the lens), can the emergent rays still be convergent, forming a real image. A ray which gets farther from the optical axis the farther it goes is called a divergent ray. Any lens that is "thicker in the center" than on the edges is generally described as a convex lens and will function as a converging lens when it is operating in air.

The point where all rays which enter the lens parallel to its axis are brought to a focus is called the principal focus. This position is located behind the lens and is usually labeled as F in ray diagrams. A similar point the same distance in front of the lens is called the lens' secondary focus, F'. The distance from the center of the lens to the principal focus is called the focal length of the lens and is represented by the variable, f.

Whenever the actual rays of light that refract through the lens converge behind the lens to form an image, that type of image is called a real image. Real images can be projected onto a screen, are always inverted and reversed left-toright. For those of you who have ever loaded a slide projector, you know that you must first flip-over and then rotate each slide to insure that the image on the screen will be correctly oriented. Since the actual rays of light passing through the lens form these real images, they are also known as "hot" images. Remember, that each ray of light is composed of photons which are packets of radiant energy. If you have ever tried to use a magnifying glass to burn a hole in a dried leaf or roast a small piece of a hot dog, then you have experienced this property of real images. You instinctively learned to place the leaf or hot dog at the principal focus of the magnifying glass' converging lens. Converging Lenses There are three primary rays which are used to locate the images formed by converging lenses. Each ray starts from the top of the object. Ray runs parallel to the axis until it reaches the lens; then it refracts through the lens and leaves along #1 a path that passes through the lens' principal focus (aqua)

Ray runs straight through the center of the lens never bending #2 (gold)

Ray first passes through the secondary focus until it reaches the lens; then it refract through the lens #3 and leaves parallel to the lens' axis on the other side of the lens (pink)

Remember, ALL rays must have ARROWS! When all three of these rays meet, they will form the image.

Any lens that is "thinner in the center" than on the edges is called a concave lens and will function as a diverging lens when operating in air.

The point where rays which entered the lens parallel to its axis are brought to a focus in front of the lens is called the principal focus. This position is usually labeled F in ray diagrams. A similar point the same distance behind the lens is called the lens' secondary focus, F'.

When the actual rays of light diverge after passing through the lens, the image formed by the intersection of their "dotted back segments" is called avirtual image. Virtual images are always upright images which are "trapped" inside the lens. Since the actual rays of light do NOT form these images, virtual images are also known as "cool" images. This type of image can NOT be projected onto a screen. Diverging Lenses There are three primary rays which are used in ray diagrams to locate images formed by diverging lenses. Each of these rays start on the top of the object. runs parallel to the axis, refracts through the lens so that, when dotted back, it passes through the principal focus

Ray #1 (aqua)

Ray #2runs straight through the center of the lens never bending (gold)

aims for the secondary focus, refracts through the lens and runs off parallel to the axis on the other side of the lens

Ray #3 (pink)

Anumang lens na "thinner sa gitna" kaysa sa ang mga dulo ay tinatawag na isang malukong na lens at ay aandarbilang isang diverging lens kapag operating sa hangin.

Ang point na kung saan rays na ipinasok ang lens na kahilera sa kanyang axis ay dinadala sa isang pagtutok sa harap ng lens ay tinatawag na punong-guro focus. Ang posisyon na ito ay karaniwang may label na F sa diagram ray. Ang isang katulad na point ang parehong distansya sa likod ng lens ay tinatawag na 'pangalawang focus, F' ang lens.

Kapag ang aktwal na mga rays ng liwanag maghiwalay pagkatapos ng pagpasa sa pamamagitan ng lens, ang imahe na nabuo sa pamamagitan ng intersection ng kanilang mga "may tuldok na bumalik segment" ay tinatawag na isang virtual na imahe. Virtual mga imahe ay palaging patayo na mga imahe na "nakulong" sa loob ng lens. Dahil ang mga aktwal na mga rays ng liwanag HINDI form ang mga imaheng ito, virtual mga imahe ay kilala rin bilang "cool na" na mga imahe. Ang uri ng imahe na ito ay HINDI maaaring inaasahang papunta sa isang screen. Diverging Lenses May tatlong mga pangunahing ray na ginagamit sa ray diagram upang mahanap ang mga imahe na nabuo sa pamamagitan ng diverging lenses. Bawat isa sa mga rays simulan sa tuktok ng bagay. tumatakbo kahilera sa axis, refracts sa pamamagitan ng lens upang, kapag may tuldok sa likod, ito pumasa sa pamamagitan ng punong-guro focus

Ray # 1 (Aqua)

tumatakbo tuwid sa pamamagitan ng gitna ng lens ng hindi baluktot

Ray # 2 (Ginto)

Ray # Nilalayon para sa pangalawang focus, refracts sa pamamagitan ng lens at tumatakbo off kahilera 3 sa axis sa iba pang bahagi ng lens (Rosas)