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ASPhysicsEdexcelRevision Notes5. Waves & Particle Nature of LightRefraction, Reflection & Polarisation5.22 The Lens Equation

The Lens Equation (Edexcel AS Physics)

Revision Note

Lindsay Gilmour

Last updated

The Lens Equation

  • This equation can be applied to all thin converging and diverging lenses
  • The equation relates the focal length of the lens to the distances from the lens to the image and the object

1 over f equals 1 over u plus 1 over v

  • Where:
    • f = focal length (m)
    • v = image distance from lens (m)
    • u = object distance from lens (m)

5-22-lens-equation-diagrams_edexcel-al-physics-rn

  • This equation only works for thin converging or diverging lenses
    • The values are positive if the image is real

Worked example

A student investigates the focal length of a thin lens by using it to project and image onto a screen.

The object is set 50.0 cm from the centre of the lens and the screen moved back and forth until the inverted image is sharp. This position is found to be 75.0 cm from the lens.

Determine the focal length of the lens.

Step 1: Write the known values

    • Distance from object to lens, u = 50.0 cm
    • Distance from image to lens, v = 75.0 cm

Step 2: Write the equation and substitute in the values

1 over f equals 1 over u plus 1 over v space equals 1 over 50 plus 1 over 75 space equals 1 over 30

f = 30 cm

Examiner Tip

It is easy to forget the last step in a calculation like this one. Remember that you are calculating  not f, and that you need to take the reciprocal of your answer.

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    Lindsay Gilmour

    Author: Lindsay Gilmour

    Expertise: Physics

    Lindsay graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Greenwich and earned her Science Communication MSc at Imperial College London. Now with many years’ experience as a Head of Physics and Examiner for A Level and IGCSE Physics (and Biology!), her love of communicating, educating and Physics has brought her to Save My Exams where she hopes to help as many students as possible on their next steps.