Teacher packs in Experimental Science

PHY Pack 5

Finding the focal length of a lens using the ray box

Pack contents:

1. Teacher’s Guide
2. Students Guide
3. Assessment – Student’s sheet
4. Extensions to experiment
5. Links to other packs
6. Health and Safety

Curriculum areas covered:

Light Energy

Produced by University of Cape Coast and The Open University, UK as part of DelPHE-funded Project
Teacher packs in Experimental Science Phy Pack 5 – Finding focal length of lens

Title: Finding the focal length of a lens using the ray box
Target group: Diploma in Basic Education
Also suitable for: [Link]. Basic Education
Duration of Activity: 50 minutes plus discussion time

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the lesson the student should be able to

1. Knowledge and Understanding KN1 Identify the different types of lenses.

(KN)
KN2 Explain the properties of the various lenses.
KN3 Apply the lens equations, in conjunction with
ray diagrams and other methods, to solve
related problems dealing with lenses.
2. Cognitive Skills (CS) CS1 Explain how the focal length of various lenses
can be determined.
CS2 Explain with diagrams the various properties
of the types of lenses.
3. Key Skills (KS) KS1 Determine the object and image distance.
KS2 State the lens equation and determine the focal
length of lenses using the lens equation.
4. Practical Skills (PS) PS1 Set up the practical experiment.
PS2 measure and record results accurately.
PS2 Make and record observations, measurements
and report results.

Produced by the Physics group University of Cape Coast as part of a DelPHE funded Project
Teacher packs in Experimental Science Phy Pack 5 – Finding focal length of lens

A. Teacher’s Guide

Overview
Students are asked to find the object distance and image distance of the illuminated ray box. The
students are then asked to determine the focal length of the lens, using the lens equation
1 1 1
  and as well plot an appropriate graph as an alternative way to determine the focal
f u v
length of the lens.

Aim
The experiment is to enable students to physically observe the image produced by the lens. This
is to give the student a fair idea as to how the lens equation with the measured quantities can be
manipulated to obtain the focal length of the lens and also use the graphical method to determine
the focal length of a lens.

Practical Skills Developed

1. Application of scientific methods including observing, measuring, collecting, recording
and tabulating data.
2. Use of significant figures
3. Change of subject of an equation
4. Preparing and presenting data in graphical forms.
5. Team work and oral communication

Equipment/ Materials/ Apparatus.

Ray box with illuminated object, white screen, Lens holders, metre rule, a lens, a plain sheet of
paper, a graph sheet and a pencil.

Advice to Tutors
1. Measured quantities should be repeated and averaged.
2. Encourage students to use different object distance. They should also record their
readings systematically i.e. increasing or decreasing order.
3. The reading of distances from the metre rule should be done on the mark, looking
vertically, with the metre rule horizontally placed.
4. Create time to discuss the physics of what is going on and to introduce the concept of
focal length. The tutor should discuss the different types of lenses and their properties.

Sample Assessment Questions with answers

1. What is meant by the ‘focal length’ of a lens and what is its significance? (CS1)
Answer: Focal length of a lens is the distance between optical centre and the principal
focus.
It determines the power of the lens.

Produced by the Physics group University of Cape Coast as part of a DelPHE funded Project
Teacher packs in Experimental Science Phy Pack 5 – Finding focal length of lens

2. State the lens equation. (KS2)

1 1 1
Answer:   , where f = focal length, u = object distance and v = image distance.
f u v

3. Sketch the different types of converging lenses. (KN1)

Answer:

a) Bi-convex (b) convex (converging) meniscus

(c) Plano-convex

4. How would you improve the precision of your measurements? (PS3)

Answer: The image formed on the screen must be sharp. The eye direction should be
vertical to the figure to be read.

Produced by the Physics group University of Cape Coast as part of a DelPHE funded Project
Teacher packs in Experimental Science Phy Pack 5 – Finding focal length of lens

B. Student Guide

Purpose: To determine the focal length of a lens using the ray box.

Equipment/ Materials

Ray box with illuminated object, white screen, lens holder, metre rule and lens

Background

The purpose of the experiment is to study image formation by a thin lens. In particular we will
find the focal length of a lens (converging) using the lens equation. In this experiment, we will
be dealing only with thin lenses. A thin lens is a lens whose thickness is negligible when
compared with the distance from the lens to the principal foci or any objects or images
concerned.

u v

Ray box

Figure 5.1: Experimental Setup for finding the refractive index of

a glass block.

You are provided with a ray box, lens holder, metre rule, white screen and a lens whose focal
length you are to determine. You are to set up the experiment as shown in the diagram. You need
to prepare a table in which your readings can be recorded. To reduce experimental errors, repeat
the experiment and find the average value of the focal length.

Procedure

1. Place the lens in its holder at a fixed distance (u) from the illuminated object.
2. Move the screen towards or away from the lens until a sharp clear image is seen on it.
3. Measure the image distance (v), between the lens and the screen.
1 1 1
4. Substitute the values of u and v in the formula:   and hence determine the focal
f u v
length (f) of the lens

Produced by the Physics group University of Cape Coast as part of a DelPHE funded Project
Teacher packs in Experimental Science Phy Pack 5 – Finding focal length of lens

5. Repeat the experiment four times by changing the object distances.

6. Find the average value of the focal length (f).
7. Construct an appropriate table for u, v, uv and u  v .
8. Plot a graph of uv as the ordinate against u  v as the abscissa and find the slope of the
graph.
9. What does the slope represent?
10. Compare the average value in Step 6 with the slope calculated in step 8.

Results and Calculations

Tabulate your results as shown below in Table 5.1

Table 5.1 Table of Results

Experiment u/cm v/cm f/cm uv/cm2 ( u  v )/cm
1
2
3
4
5

Theory
1 1 1
Using the lens equation,   , determine f for each of the records and find the average f.
f u v
Conclusion
The focal length of the lens = …….m

Produced by the Physics group University of Cape Coast as part of a DelPHE funded Project
Teacher packs in Experimental Science Phy Pack 5 – Finding focal length of lens

C. Assessment – Student’s sheet

On completion of the experiment, you should answer the following questions:

1. What is meant by the ‘focal length’ of a lens and what is its significance? (CS1)

2. State the lens equation. (KS2)

3. Sketch the different types of converging lenses. (KN1)

4. How would you improve the precision of your measurements? (PS3)

Produced by the Physics group University of Cape Coast as part of a DelPHE funded Project
Teacher packs in Experimental Science Phy Pack 5 – Finding focal length of lens

D. Extensions to experiment
A laser source can be used as the source of light instead of the ray box.
The same procedure can be used in determining the focal length of a concave lens.

E. References and Other Useful Links

1. Abbot A. F. (1980), Ordinary Level Physics, 3rd Edition, Heinemann Books International,
London.

2. Nelkon M. and Parker P., (1987), Advanced Level Physics, Heinemann Educational
Publishers, London.

Produced by the Physics group University of Cape Coast as part of a DelPHE funded Project