Geometric Optics Problems

Department of Natural Sciences
Clayton College & State University

April 11, 2001

Physics 2212 - Geometric Optics Problems

Name _________SOLUTION______________

The questions below are modifications of problems provided in Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday and Resnik.

1. Mirrors. Complete the mirrors problems table by filling in any missing information. All distances are in centimeters. If a number in the table does not explicitly show a plus or minus sign in front of it, find the correct sign. Draw a ray diagram for each case.

2. Thin lenses. Complete the thin lens problems table by filling in any missing information. All distances are in centimeters. If a number in the table does not explicitly show a plus or minus sign in front of it, find the correct sign. Draw a ray diagram for each case.

Table 1. Answers to mirror problems.

Part	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
mirror type	concave	plane	concave	concave	convex	convex	convex	concave
f	+ 20.0	infinity	+ 20.0	+ 20.0	- 20.0	20.0	- 20.0	+ 8.00
R	+ 40.0	infinity	+ 40.0	+40.0	- 40.0	40.0	- 40.0	+ 16.0
p	+ 10.0	+ 10.0	+ 30.0	+ 60.0	+ 20.0	+ 180	+ 5.00	+24.0
q	- 20.0	- 10.0	+ 60.0	+ 30.0	- 10.0	- 18.0	- 4.00	+ 12.0
M	+ 2.00	+ 1.00	- 2.00	-0.500	+ 0.500	+0.100	+ 0.800	- 0.500
real image?	no	no	yes	yes	no	no	no	yes
upright?	yes	yes	no	no	yes	yes	yes	no

Table 2. Answers to thin lens problems.

Part	a	b	c	d	e	f
lens type	converging	converging	converging	diverging	diverging	converging
f	+ 10.0	+10.0	+10.0	- 10.0	- 10.0	+ 3.33
p	+ 20.0	+5.00	+5.00	+5.00	+10.0	+ 10.0
q	+ 20.0	- 10.0	- 10.0	- 3.33	- 5.00	+ 5.00
M	- 1.00	+ 2.00	> 1	< 1	+ 0.500	- 0.500
real image?	yes	no	no	no	no	yes
upright?	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no

Last update: April 13, 2001