ObjectRay DiagramType of ImageImage Distance (v)Uses
- Inverted
- Real
- Diminshed

→ opposite side of lens
- object lens of a telescope
- Inverted
- Real
- Diminished

→ opposite side oflens
- camera
- eye
- Inverted
- Real
- Same size

→ opposite side of lens
- photocopier making same sized copy
- Inverted
- Real
- Magnified

→ opposite side of lens
- projector
- photograph enlarger
- Upright
- Virtual
- Magnified
→ image at infinity
→ same side of lens
- to produce a parallel beam of light, e.g. a spotlight
- Upright
- Virtual
- Magnified
→ image is behind the object
→ same side of lens
- magnifying

Why are rays from a distant object considered to be parallel? → consider a spherical object that is giving out light or reflecting light in all directions. → if a lens is very far away → it will only receive a very tiny portion of rays and these rays will be almost parallel.


Somewhat general trend

  • as object approaches closer to the lens → the image formed is further and further away from the lens
  • Eventually when object is placed at focal point → the image formed will turn from real to virtual
  • when object is placed even closer to lens than focus point → image is formed behind the object itself and it is virtual

Important

when object distance = image distance → object distance is twice the focal length away from the lens