How to draw Ray Diagrams

• What type of lenses cause light rays to diverge?

  Concave lenses
• What symbol represents a concave lens in ray diagrams?

  A v shape with outward points
• What is the horizontal line through the middle of the lens called?

  Axis
• What are the focal points in relation to a lens?

  Points where light rays converge or diverge
• What is another term for the focal point?

  Principal focus
• What does the label '2f' represent in ray diagrams?

  Twice the distance of the focal point
• How do you represent an object in a ray diagram?

  As a point near the top of the object
• What happens to the ray that goes through the center of the lens?

  It continues straight without refraction
• How do you find the angle at which a ray is refracted?

  By drawing a virtual ray to the focal point
• What do you do after drawing all light rays in a ray diagram?

  Find the point where they cross
• What can be said about the image formed by a concave lens?

  It is always virtual
• How is the image formed by a concave lens described?

  Upright and smaller than the object
• What type of lenses focus light onto a single point?

  Convex lenses
• How do the v shapes at the ends of a convex lens differ from a concave lens?

  They point inward instead of outward
• What happens to the ray passing through the middle of a convex lens?

  It continues straight without refraction
• How do you determine the location of the image in a convex lens ray diagram?

  By finding where the refracted rays cross
• What is the nature of the image formed by a convex lens when the object is more than two focal lengths away?

  Real, inverted, and smaller than the object
• What happens if the object is exactly at two focal lengths from a convex lens?

  The image is real and the same size
• What occurs if the object is between the focal point and the lens?

  The image is virtual, upright, and larger
• What type of object is typically used in exam ray diagrams?

  An arrow
• Where should rays be drawn from in ray diagrams?

  From the very top of the object
• What are the key characteristics of images formed by concave lenses?

  • Always virtual
  • Upright
  • Smaller than the object
• What are the key characteristics of images formed by convex lenses?

  • Real when object is beyond 2f
  • Inverted
  • Smaller than the object when beyond 2f
  • Virtual when object is between f and lens
  • Upright and larger when between f and lens
• What are the steps to draw a ray diagram for a concave lens?

  1. Draw the concave lens symbol
  2. Add the axis and focal points
  3. Draw incident rays from the object
  4. Identify the refracted rays
  5. Find the intersection point for the image
  6. Comment on the image characteristics
• What are the steps to draw a ray diagram for a convex lens?

  1. Draw the convex lens symbol
  2. Add the axis and focal points
  3. Draw incident rays from the object
  4. Identify the refracted rays
  5. Find the intersection point for the image
  6. Comment on the image characteristics