A thin convex lens and a thin concave lens are kept in contact and are co-axial. Which of the following statements is correct for this combination of two lenses ?
- behaves as concave lens if |fconvex|>|fconcave|
- behaves as concave lens if |fconvex|<|fconcave|
- behaves as convex lens if |fconvex|>|fconcave|
- Focal length of the lens system will change if the positions of two lenses are interchanged
Answer
(1) behaves as concave lens if |fconvex|>|fconcave|
Solution
Lenses in contact: 1F= 1fconvex+ 1fconcave= 1|fconvex|- 1|fconcave|
If |fconvex|>|fconcave|:
1|fconvex|< 1|fconcave| F<0: diverging (concave) combination.
(1) is correct and (3) is wrong; (2) is wrong since then F>0 (convex).
the formula is symmetric in f1 and f2, interchanging the lenses does not change F (4) is wrong.
Answer: (1)