2. Microscopy Flashcards
(93 cards)
To understand the function of optical lenses (further called “lenses”) the concept of ___ is sufficient
geometric optics
What is the concept of geometric optics?
According to this model, light rays emerge from every object point in all possible directions and propagate in straight lines. I
What is Fermat’s principle?
The path taken by light in traveling from one point to another is such that the time of travel is minimum.
The well-known Snell’s law of refraction is a consequence of which principle?
Fermat’s principle
Snell’s law of refraction
The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence ( alpha) to that of refraction ( beta ) equals the ratio of the speed of light in the corresponding media (c1, c2)
→ This ratio equals the relative index of refraction of the second medium with respect to the first (n21)
The well-known Snell’s law of refraction is a consequence of Fermat’s principle.
→ Accordingly, when a beam strikes a boundary surface separating two different media, the transmitted ray is ___
refracted
Characteristics of lenses
Lenses are usually circular in diameter and have two spherical surfaces
What is the optical axis?
The dashed line (Fig. 2) connecting the centers of curvature of the spheres
What are 2 types of lenses
converging (positive) and diverging (negative)
Characteristics of converging lenses
Incident light parallel with the optical axis is focused at the focal point, beyond the converging lens.
Characteristics of diverging lenses
Incident light parallel with the optical axis diverges as if it originating from the focal point, before the diverging lens.
What is PRINCIPAL PLANE:?
sufficiently thin lens can be represented well by a single refraction in the principal plane.
What is focal point?
When incident rays are parallel to the optical axis of the converging lens, the refracted rays converge at one point along the optical axis → this point is focal point F
What is FOCAL LENGTH?
distance of the focal point to the principal plane.
What is POWER OF A LENS?
the reciprocal of the focal length (D = 1 / f ). It is measured in diopters (1 dpt = 1/m).
Characteristics of thin lens
Thickness of the thin lens is negligible compared to its focal length.
incident parallel rays ___ into one point in the case of a converging lens
converge
incident parallel ray are___ from one point in the case of a diverging lens
emerged
Thin lenses can be well represented by a single __ on the principal plane
refraction
What is the lensmaker’s equation? (not in topic)
It gives the power (or focal length) of a thin lens in terms of the properties of the lens as follows
(where n21 is the relative index of refraction of the lens material respective to the
surrounding medium and R1 and R2 are the radii of curvature of the lens surfaces.)
According to this equation, the smaller the radius of curvature (the more bulged the lens), the (1)___ is the focal length and the (2)__ is the power of the lens.
- shorter
- greater
Types of these lens
Types of these lens
How does The lensmaker’s equation relate to the eye?
It demonstrates the possibility of the eye to regulate its power by changing the curvature of the eye lens
→ forming a sharp image about both distant and close objects by the process of accommodation

