OPTICAL

INSTRUMENTS
SIMPLE MICROSCOPE
When the image is at infinity, then the angular magnification is
m = D/f
Though this is one less than the magnification when the image is at the near
point, the viewing is more comfortable and the difference in magnification is
usually small.
 COMPOUND MICROSCOPE:
uo vo

B A’’’ fe
Fo 2Fo 2Fe α
• • Po
• • • • A’
2Fo A Fo A’’ Fe β Pe
Eye
fo fo

Objective
B’

L Eyepiece

B’’ D
Objective: The converging lens nearer to the object.
Eyepiece: The converging lens through which the final image is seen.
Both are of short focal length. Focal length of eyepiece is slightly greater than that of the objective.
 Angular Magnification or Magnifying Power (M):
Angular magnification or magnifying power of a compound microscope is defined as the ratio of
the angle β subtended by the final image at the eye to the angle α subtended by the object
seen directly, when both are placed at the least distance of distinct vision.

β M = Me x M o
M=
α
ve D (ve = - D =
Since angles are small, α = Me = 1 - or Me = 1 +
fe fe - 25 cm)
tan α and β = tan β
tan β vo vo D
M= and Mo = M= (1+ )
tan α - uo - uo fe
A’’B’’ D
M= x Since the object is placed very close to the
D A’’A’’’ principal focus of the objective and the image is
A’’B’’ D formed very close to the eyepiece,
M= x uo ≈ fo and vo ≈ L
D AB -L D
A’’B’’ M= (1+ )
M= fo fe
AB
A’’B’’ A’B’ -L D
M= x (Normal adjustment
or M≈ x
A’B’ AB fo fe i.e. image at infinity)
 Astronomical Telescope: (Image formed at infinity – Normal Adjustment)

fo + fe = L

fo fe Eye

Fo
Fe
α
Po α •
β Pe

Eyepiece

Image at
Objective
infinity

Focal length of the objective is much greater than that of the eyepiece.
Aperture of the objective is also large to allow more light to pass through it.
Angular magnification or Magnifying power of a telescope in normal adjustment is the ratio of the angle
subtended by the image at the eye as seen through the telescope to the angle subtended by the object
as seen directly, when both the object and the image are at infinity.

β
M=
α
Since angles are small, α = tan α and β = tan β

tan β
M=
tan α
Fe I Fe I
M=
PeFe / PoFe

-I -I
M=
- fe / fo

- fo (fo + fe = L is called the length of the

M=
fe telescope in normal adjustment).
Astronomical Telescope: (Image formed at LDDV)

fo
Eye
fe

α A F e Fo
α • •
Po β Pe

I
Eyepiece
ue

Objective B D
Angular magnification or magnifying power of a telescope in this case is defined as the ratio of the angle β
subtended at the eye by the final image formed at the least distance of distinct vision to the angle α subtended at
the eye by the object lying at infinity when seen directly.

β 1 1 1
M= - =
α -D - ue fe

Since angles are small, α = 1 1 1

or = +
tan α and β = tan β ue fe D
tan β Multiplying by fo on both sides and
M=
tan α rearranging, we get
Fo I Fo I
M= - fo fe
PeFo Po Fo M= (1+ )
/ D
fe
PoF o + fo
M= or M = Clearly focal length of objective must be greater
PeFo - ue
than that of the eyepiece for larger magnifying
power.
Lens Equation
Also, it is to be noted that in this case M is larger
1 1 1 than that in normal adjustment position.
- = becomes
v u f
 REFLECTING TELESCOPES
The main considerations with an astronomical telescope : its light gathering power and its resolution
or resolving power.
 Light gathering power depends on the area of the objective. With larger diameters, fainter objects
can be observed.
 The resolving power, or the ability to observe two objects distinctly, which are in very nearly the same
direction, also depends on the diameter of the objective.
So, the desirable aim in optical telescopes is to make them with objective of large diameter.
Big lenses tend to be very heavy and therefore, difficult to make and support by their edges. Further, it is
rather difficult and expensive to make such large sized lenses which form images that are free from any
kind of chromatic aberration and distortions.
Hence modern telescopes use a concave mirror rather than a lens for the objective. Telescopes with
mirror objectives are called reflecting telescopes.
ADVANTAGES OF REFLECTING TELESCOPE :
1. There is no chromatic aberration in a mirror.
2. Image formed is much clearer and sharper than in a refracting telescope.
3. Mechanical support is much less of a problem since a mirror weighs much less than a lens of
equivalent optical quality, and can be supported over its entire back surface, not just over its rim.
Newtonian Telescope: (Reflecting Type)

Plane Mirror
Light from
star

Magnifying Power: Eyepiece

fo
M=
fe Concave Mirror

Eye
Resolving Power of a Microscope:
The resolving power of a microscope is defined as the reciprocal of the
distance between two objects which can be just resolved when seen through
the microscope.
Objective
1 2 μ sin θ θ
Resolving Power = = ••
Δd λ Δd

Resolving power depends on i) wavelength λ, ii) refractive index of the

medium between the object and the objective and iii) half angle of the
cone of light from one of the objects θ.
Resolving Power of a Telescope:
The resolving power of a telescope is defined as the reciprocal of the
smallest angular separation between two distant objects whose images are
seen separately.
Objective
1 a
Resolving Power =
dθ
= ••
1.22 λ dθ

Resolving power depends on i) wavelength λ, ii) diameter of the

objective a.
 THE END
OF
CHAPTER 9