Geometrical optics / Chapter / Five notes
Imaging Lens
Five focused notes on refraction, image formation, and thin lenses in air, with practical calculations that connect the geometry to an optical system.
Start with refractionFrom a ray at an interface to an image at a sensor.
Begin with the direction of a refracted ray, then connect curved surfaces and thin lenses to image position, scale, and focus. Each note pairs a bounded explanation with diagrams and two small calculators. Signs, units, and model assumptions stay visible throughout.
- 01 Application note + calculators
Refraction and Snell's Law
Predict how an optical interface redirects light and when transmission reaches its critical-angle limit.
Read the note - 02 Application note + calculators
Imaging by Refraction
Locate apparent and real images formed by a flat or curved optical interface.
Read the note - 03 Application note + calculators
Thin Lens for Imaging
Connect focal length, object distance, and image size with a consistent geometric model.
Read the note - 04 Application note + calculators
The Eye and the Camera
Compare how eyes and cameras maintain focus as object distance changes.
Read the note - 05 Application note + calculators
Microscope and Telescope
Distinguish image enlargement from angular magnification in two-lens instruments.
Read the note
A first-order model establishes geometry. Your application sets the image-quality requirement.
Discuss your optical requirements →