EXPERIMENT-5
EXPT-6
AIM- To find the focal length of a convex mirror using a convex lens.
APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED
An optical bench with uprights for holding lens, mirror and two needles, two needles (pins), a thin
convex lens, a convex mirror, index needle (may be a knitting needle or a pencil sharply pointed at
both ends), a metre scale and a spirit level.
PRINCIPLE
Fig 1-a Fig 1-b
Fig. 1(a) Object is at infinity. A highly diminished and point image is located at the focus behind the convex mirror
Fig. 1(b) Object is in front of the mirror. A diminished virtual image is produced between the pole and focus behind the mirror
Fig-1. illustrates the formation of image of an object AB by a convex mirror MM’ (having a small
aperture) in two different situations. The image formed by a convex mirror is virtual and erect.
Therefore, its focal length cannot be determined directly. However, it can be determined by
introducing a convex lens in between the object and the convex mirror (Fig.2).
An object AB is placed at point P’ in front of a thin convex lens such that its real, inverted and
magnified image A’B’ is formed at position C on the other side of the lens [Fig. 2(b)]. Now a convex
mirror is introduced between the convex lens and point C and so adjusted that the real and inverted
image A’B’ coincides with the object AB at point P’ [Fig..2 (a)]. This is possible if the light rays starting
from the tip of the object, after passing through the lens, fall normally on the reflecting surface of the
convex mirror and retrace their path. Any normal ray (perpendicular) to a spherical surface has to be
along the radius of that sphere so that point C must be the centre of curvature of the convex mirror.
Therefore, the distance P C is the radius of curvature R and half of it would be the focal length of the
PC R
convex mirror. That is ,f = =
2 2
Fig. 2 Image formed by (a) convex mirror and convex lens-image A’B’ coincides with the object A B at P’
(b) convex lens- image is inverted and magnified
PROCEDURE
1. In case, if the focal length of the given thin convex lens is not known then approximate value of its
focal length should be estimated first.
2. The optical bench is place on a rigid table or on a platform. Using the spirit level, it is made
Horizontal with the help of leveling screws provided at the base of the bench.
3. The uprights mounted with pin P1 (object pin), convex lens LL’, and convex mirror MM’ are
placed on the horizontal optical bench [Fig. .2(a)].
4. The lens, mirror, and pin P1 are vertically placed on the optical bench and the tip of the pin, optical
centre O of the convex lens LL’, and pole P of the convex mirror MM’ adjusted to lie on the same
horizontal straight line, parallel to the optical bench.
5. The index correction is determine between upright holding of the convex mirror and image pin
respectively, using an index needle.
6. The object pin P1 is placed from the convex lens LL’ at a distance slightly greater than the focal
length of the lens.
7. The position of the convex mirror MM’ is adjusted till the light rays reflected back from the mirror
pass through the lens and form a real and inverted image coinciding with the object pin P 1, as
shown in Fig.2 (a). This occurs when the rays starting from the tip of pin P 1, after passing through
the lens strike the mirror normally and are reflected back along their original paths.
The parallax between the image and object pins is removed.
8. The position of uprights holding the object pin P1, convex lens LL’, and convex mirror MM’ are
recorded in the observation table.
9. The convex mirror is removed from its upright and the image pin P 2 is fixed on it. The height of pin
is adjusted such that the tip of it also lies on the principal axis of the lens. That is, the tips of the
pins P1 and P2 and the optical centre O of the convex lens, all lie on a straight horizontal line
parallel to the length of the optical bench.
10.A small piece of paper may placed on image pin P2 to differentiate it from the object pin P1.
11.Using the method of parallax and without changing the position of lens LL’ and object pin P1, the
position of image pin P2 is adjusted on the other side of the lens so that it coincides with the
real and inverted image of the object pin P1 formed by the convex lens [Fig. 2(b)]. The position of
the image pin is noted.
12The experiment is repeated by changing the separation between the pin P 1 and lens LL’ and the
mirror MM’. In this manner, five sets of observations are taken.
OBSERVATION
1. Focal length of the convex lens, f (estimated/given) = ........... cm
2. Actual length of the index needle, l = ...................................... cm
3. Observed length of the index needle l’ = Position of mirror upright – position of pin upright on the scale
= .................................. cm
4.Index correction, e = Actual length – observed length (l – l’) = ......... cm
Tabulation for Determination of focal length of convex mirror, (f)
Upright position of Corrected Focal
Observed Mean
Sl. Object Convex R=
Convex Image pin R length
No. pin R’ = c – d
Observed
lens LL’ Mirror
P2 R’ + e in f
P1 MM’ (cm)
b (cm) (cm)
d (cm) (cm) (cm)
a (cm) c (cm)
RESULT The focal length of the given convex mirror is f = .......cm.
PRECAUTIONS
1. The uprights supporting the pins, lens and mirror must be rigid and mounted vertically.
2. The apertures of the given convex lens and convex mirror should be small, otherwise the image
formed will be distorted.
3. Eye should be placed at a distance of about 25 cm or more from the image pin.
4. Optical bench should be horizontal. The tips of pins, centre of convex lens and pole of the mirror
should be at the same horizontal level.
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. The tip of the inverted image of the object pin should just touch the tip of the image pin and must
not overlap. This should be ensured while removing the parallax.
2. Personal eye defects may make removal of parallax tedious.
3. The convex mirror should preferably be front-coated. Otherwise multiple reflections may take
place.
DISCUSSION
It may not be possible to perform this experiment with just any convex lens. The focal length of the
lens used in this experiment should neither be too small nor too large. Why?
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EXPERIMENT-7
EXPERIMENT-8
CALCULATION:-
