Under what circumstances, if any, will a converging lens form an inverted image of a real object? Under what circumstances, by itself, will a diverging lens form an erect image of a real object?
A converging lens, also known as a convex lens, is thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges. For a converging lens to form an inverted image of a real object, it needs to satisfy the following conditions:
1. The object must be located beyond the lens' focal point: In this situation, the light rays from the object converge after passing through the lens and form a real, inverted image on the opposite side of the lens. This is the most common scenario for a converging lens.
2. The object should be located exactly at the focal point: If the object is located precisely at the focal point, the rays of light that pass through the lens will become parallel. Consequently, no image is formed, and the light extends indefinitely.
3. The object lies between the lens and its focal point: If the object is positioned between the lens and its focal point, the light rays will diverge after passing through the lens. As a result, the emergent rays appear to come from a point on the same side of the lens as the object, forming a virtual, upright image.
On the other hand, a diverging lens, also known as a concave lens, is thinner in the middle and thicker at the edges. By itself, a diverging lens always forms an erect image of a real object, regardless of its location. This behavior is due to the fact that a diverging lens causes the light rays to diverge after passing through the lens. Consequently, the rays never converge to a single point, resulting in an upright, virtual image.
A converging lens can form an inverted image of a real object under the following circumstances:
1. When the object is located beyond the lens' focal point (F): If the object is placed at a distance greater than the focal length of the lens, an inverted image will be formed on the opposite side of the lens. This is often referred to as a real image.
2. When the object is located at twice the focal length (2F): If the object is placed exactly at a distance twice the focal length of the lens, the image will be formed at the same distance on the opposite side of the lens. This real image will be inverted.
On the other hand, a diverging lens, by itself, always forms an erect image of a real object. Whatever the position of the object, the image formed by a diverging lens will always be virtual, erect, and smaller in size. The image is formed by the diverging rays of light appearing to originate from a point behind the lens.