Real & Virtual Images Flashcards
All 6 cards in this deck
What is a real image?
An image formed where light rays actually meet, so it can be captured on a screen.
What is a virtual image?
An image that light rays only appear to come from when traced back, so it cannot be formed on a screen.
What is the nature of the image formed by a converging lens when the object is further from the lens than the focal length?
Real and inverted, formed on the other side of the lens.
What is the nature of the image formed by a converging lens used as a magnifying glass (object closer than the focal length)?
Virtual, upright and magnified, on the same side of the lens as the object.
What is the nature of the image formed by a diverging lens?
Always virtual, upright and diminished, on the same side of the lens as the object.
What are the steps to draw a ray diagram locating the image formed by a converging lens?
e.g. an object standing on the axis beyond the focal point
- Draw a ray from the top of the object parallel to the axis; it refracts through the principal focus on the far side.
- Draw a ray from the top of the object straight through the centre of the lens.
- The image top is where the two rays cross — here a real, inverted image.