Magnification
Magnification (M) is a crucial concept in optics that describes the relationship between the dimensions of an image and the dimensions of the object. Mathematically, magnification is defined as the ratio of the image height (h2) to the object height (h1), expressed as:
\[ M = \frac{h_2}{h_1} = \frac{v}{u} \]
Where:
- M is the magnification,
- h1 is the height of the object,
- h2 is the height of the image,
- v is the image distance from the lens,
- u is the object distance from the lens.
The sign and value of magnification help determine the nature of the image:
- For convex lenses:
- M > 1: The image is enlarged.
- M < 1: The image is diminished.
- M > 0: The image is virtual and erect.
- M < 0: The image is real and inverted.
- For concave lenses:
- Images are always diminished, virtual, and erect: M < 1 and M > 0.
Understanding these principles of magnification is essential for applications in lenses, such as in cameras, eyeglasses, and microscopes.