Image formation is the process by which reflected or refracted light creates an image that can be real or virtual, upright or inverted, and magnified or reduced.
Your eye or a screen sees an image based on where the outgoing rays meet or appear to meet.
Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.
Example 1
easy
Can a virtual image be projected onto a screen?
Example 2
challenge
An object placed 10 cm from a lens gives an upright image 3 times as tall. Find the focal length.
Example 3
hard
Why does a virtual image lack the ability to be projected, even though we still call it an image?
Example 4
medium
A real image is 1/3 the object's height and at di=20 cm. Find do.
Example 5
challenge
A concave mirror with f=20 cm forms an image with hi=−5 cm when the object is 4 cm tall. Find do and di.
Example 6
medium
A convex (diverging) mirror with f=−20 cm shows an object at do=30 cm. Find di.
Example 7
medium
A concave mirror (f=15 cm) has an object at do=10 cm. Find di and m.
Example 8
hard
A 2 cm coin is viewed through a magnifying glass (f=5 cm) held 4 cm above. Find the apparent height of the image.
Example 9
easy
If ∣m∣<1, is the image larger or smaller than the object?
Example 10
medium
An object is placed at the focal point of a converging lens. Where does the image form?
Example 11
medium
An image is upright and the same size as the object. What is the magnification, and what optical element gives this for any object distance?
Example 12
medium
A lens forms an image with do=25 cm and di=−50 cm. Find the magnification and describe the image.
Example 13
easy
A virtual image from a single converging lens or mirror is oriented how?
Example 14
medium
A lens gives do=15 cm and di=−30 cm. Describe the image type and orientation.
Example 15
medium
A diverging lens has f=−10 cm. An object sits at do=20 cm. Find di.
Example 16
easy
An object 6 cm tall forms an image 3 cm tall and upright. Find the magnification.
Example 17
hard
An object is at do=2f in front of a converging lens. Find di in terms of f, and find m.
Example 18
easy
Why are virtual images still considered genuine images even though they cannot be projected?
Example 19
easy
A plane mirror always produces what kind of image?
Example 20
medium
A real image forms at di=20 cm and is half the object's height. Find the object distance.