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Chapter 2: Problem 1

What are the differences between real and virtual images? How can you tell (by looking) whether an image formed by a single lens or mirror is real or virtual?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Real images are formed when light rays converge at a point and can be projected onto a screen, while virtual images occur when light rays only appear to converge but do not actually do so, and thus cannot be projected. To determine whether an image is real or virtual for a lens, consider the object and image positions and the nature of the lens (converging or diverging). For mirrors, consider the nature of the mirror (concave or convex) and the object position. Converging lenses and concave mirrors can form either real or virtual images depending on the object's position relative to the focal point, while diverging lenses and convex mirrors always form virtual images.

Step by step solution

01

1. Understand real and virtual images

A real image is formed when the light rays from an object converge at a point, whereas a virtual image is formed when the light rays only appear to converge at a point but do not actually do so. Real images can be projected onto a screen or focusing plane, while virtual images cannot.
02

2. Light convergence in real images

In real images, the light rays emitted or reflected from an object physically converge on the other side of the lens or mirror to a point called the image point. This convergence of rays can be easily traced, forming a downside-up image which can be projected onto a screen.
03

3. Light divergence in virtual images

In virtual images, the light rays emitted or reflected from an object only seem to converge, but they do not physically cross. This means they either diverge after passing through the lens or are perceived to have converged in the case of a reflection. The image created is right-side up and cannot be focused or projected onto a screen.
04

4. Identifying images formed by lenses

To determine whether an image is real or virtual for a lens, you can use the object and image positions and the nature of the lens. For a converging lens, if the object is located beyond the focal point, a real image will be formed. If the object is located between the focal point and the lens, a virtual image will be formed. Conversely, a diverging lens will always form a virtual image.
05

5. Identifying images formed by mirrors

For mirrors, the nature of the mirror (concave or convex) and the object position also play a role in determining whether an image formed is real or virtual. In the case of a concave mirror, if the object is beyond the focal point, a real image will be formed. If the object is between the focal point and the mirror, a virtual image will be formed. Conversely, a convex mirror always forms virtual images. By understanding these distinctions between real and virtual images, and using these techniques to identify them, you can determine the nature of the images formed by single lenses or mirrors in various situations.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A near-sighted person has afar point of 80 cm. (a) What kind of corrective lens the person will need if the lens is to be placed \(1.5 \mathrm{cm}\) from the eye? (b) What would be the power of the contact lens needed? Assume distance to contact lens from the eye to be zero.

An object viewed with the naked eye subtends a \(2^{\circ}\) angle. If you view the object through a \(10 \times\) magnifying glass, what angle is subtended by the image formed on your retina?

An object of height \(3.0 \mathrm{cm}\) is placed at \(5.0 \mathrm{cm}\) in front of a diverging lens of focal length \(20 \mathrm{cm}\) and observed from the other side. Where and how large is the image?

Is it necessary to project a real image onto a screen to see it?

A magnifying glass produces an angular magnification of 4.5 when used by a young person with a near point of 18 cm. What is the maximum angular magnification obtained by an older person with a near point of \(45 \mathrm{cm} ?\)
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