Calculate linear magnification (lenses)

RoadmapsPhysics (Class 10)

Scenario

Microscope mein lens lagakar dekhte hain toh bacteria `100` guna bada dikhta hai.

Yeh `100x` zoom ka number exactly kaise calculate hota hai?

Mental model

Mirror magnification jaisa hi hai, bas `v/u` formula ka minus sign gayab ho gaya.

Lens mein bhi `m = h'/h` hota hai. Lekin distance wale formula mein `m = +v/u` hota hai (mirror mein `-v/u` tha). Agar `m` positive hai toh virtual/erect, aur negative hai toh real/inverted.

Explanation

Magnification (`m`) humein bataata hai ki image, object ke mukable kitni badi ya choti bani hai. Ratio form mein, iska formula hamesha `m = h' / h` hota hai (height of image divided by height of object).

Lenses ke case mein, magnification ko object distance (`u`) aur image distance (`v`) se link karne wala formula thoda sa badal jata hai. Mirrors mein hum `m = -v/u` use karte the. Lenses mein light us-paar nikal jati hai, aur formula ban jata hai `m = v/u` (without any negative sign in front).

Aap in dono ko mila kar ek useful equation bana sakte ho: `m = h'/h = v/u`. Numericals solve karte time yeh bahut kaam aata hai.

Sign of `m` ka meaning bilkul mirror jaisa hi rehta hai. Agar `m` negative (`-`) hai, toh samajh lijiye height of image minus mein hai, yani image Inverted aur Real hai. Agar `m` positive (`+`) hai, toh image Erect aur Virtual hai.

Values ko dekhein toh: Agar `m` ki value (minus/plus ignore karke) `1` se zyada hai, toh image badi hai (Magnified). Agar `1` se choti hai (jaise `0.5`), toh image choti (Diminished) bani hai.

Worked example

Problem: An object `5 cm` high is held `25 cm` away from a converging lens. If the image is formed `50 cm` on the other side of the lens, find the magnification.

  1. `u` aur `v` ke signs pehchanein.
  2. Lenses ka magnification formula apply karein.
  3. Values ko formula mein daalein.

Answer: `m = -2`

Problem: A concave lens has magnification of `+0.5`. If the object height is `4 cm`, what is the image height?

  1. Magnification ka height wala formula use karein.
  2. Known values ko substitute karein.
  3. Cross-multiply karke `h'` ki value nikaalein.

Answer: `h' = 2 cm`

Key points

Common mistakes

Recall questions

Questions & answers

Find the magnification of an image formed by a lens if object distance is -20 cm and image distance is -10 cm.

0.5

Approach: m = v/u = -10 / -20 = +0.5.

If a lens produces a magnification of -2, what is the nature of the image?

Real and inverted.

Approach: Negative sign in magnification indicates a real and inverted image.

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