Introduction
The lens is a piece of transparent material commonly used in one’s daily life. It is used to perform refraction and diverge or converge light at a certain point. The lens that helps in diverging light rays is called the concave lens. At the same time, the lens that helps in converging light rays is called a convex lens.
A lens can perform various functions according to its shape and size. Convex lenses are shaped thinner at the edges and thicker at the centre. Their shape helps them in converging light rays at one point. This point at which rays converge is called the focus. The focal length is the distance between the focus and the centre of the lens.
Focus and focal length are two important components of a lens. They help in determining the converging power of the lens and its functions. Read on to learn more about convex lenses and their uses in real life.
What is the Convex lens?
A convex lens is an optical lens that helps in converging light rays. It gets made of two spherical surfaces bent outwards. This makes the lens thicker at the centre and thinner at the edges.
This lens can converge straight light rays approaching from outside on a point called the focus. The focal length is the distance between the focus and the centre of the kens. The focus and focal length are parameters for judging the nature of the image through a convex lens.
Convex lenses are used in various instruments due to their peculiar shape. They help in creating images that are real or virtual, depending on the source of light. The nature of an image through this lens completely depends on the object’s placement.
These lenses can further be divided into three types depending on the shape. These are plano-convex, biconvex, and concave-convex. Each of these lenses has different properties and uses.
Difference between Convex and Concave lens
Convex and concave lenses may sound similar, but they are quite the opposite. Let us better understand this by looking at the difference between convex and concave lenses.
| Convex Lens | Concave Lens |
|---|---|
| It converges a straight beam of light on the focus point. | It diverges a straight beam of light from the focus point. |
| It is thinner at the edges and thicker at the centre | It is thicker at the edges and thinner at the centre. |
| The nature of the image depends on the position of the object | The nature of the image is always upright, diminished, and virtual. |
| It is used to cure long-sightedness | It is used to cure short-sightedness |
| It always has a positive focal length | It always has a negative focal length |
| It converges light rays toward the principal axis | It diverges light rays away from the principal axis |
| The convex lens gets used in cameras, microscopes, telescopes, magnifying glasses, etc. | The concave lens gets used in spy holes, telescopes, and glasses. |
Types of Convex lens
Convex lenses can be divided into 3 types depending on their shapes. The distinct shape of the lens also gives them different properties. Thus, they get used in diverse instruments and functions. Given below are the three types of convex lenses:
- Plano Convex: Plano Convex lenses have a typical shape and features. One side of the lens is outwards, while the other is a plane. It has a good focal length due to its flat surface and round face. It allows unlimited use of the same light in a non-sensitive application.
- Biconvex: Biconvex lens is also called the Convex lens. It consists of two faces, both facing outwards. It has different radii of curvature for both sides. These radii can help in calculating the focal length of the lens.
- Concave-Convex: Concave, convex lens is another type of lens with a distinct shape. It is turned inward at one end and outward at the other. This shape allows it to perform special functions and create images.
Uses of the Convex lens
Convex lenses get used in several ways in our daily life. The most significant use of the convex lens is the human eye. A convex lens gets placed behind the iris of the eyes that helps view through one’s eyes. It makes the convex lens the most used in today’s day and age.
However, there are many other uses of the convex lens. Listed below are the most significant applications of convex lenses in everyday life:
- Convex lenses are used in magnifying glasses to create enlarged images of objects. This phenomenon happens when an object is placed at a distance less than the focal length. The lens produces an erect and magnified image of the virtual image of the object.
- It is used to cure long-sightedness or Hypermetropia.
- This lens is used in cameras to click clear images. It focuses light and helps in forming crisp and clear images.
- A combination of convex lenses gets used to correct aberrations and distortions.
- These lenses are used in compound lens instruments. It includes magnifying devices like telescopes, microscopes, and camera lenses.
- It is used as a concentrator for multi-solar cells
- Plano-convex lenses are used in telescopes.
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A convex lens is an optical lens with both sides turned outwards. It helps in converging parallel rays at a point called the focus. There are three types of convex lenses based on their shape: Images made by convex lenses completely depend on the placement of the object. They can be virtual, real, erect, inverted, diminished, enlarged, or similar. The three instruments in which convex lenses get used are Convex lenses are called converging lenses because they converge a beam of light at one point. Uses Of Convex Lens FAQs
What is a convex lens?
What are the types of convex lenses?
Plano Convex
Biconvex
Concave-ConvexWhat is the nature of the image made by a convex lens?
Name three instruments in which convex lenses get used.
Microscopes
Telescopes
CamerWhy is a convex lens called a converging lens?
