Geometrical Optics Explained with Simple Animations

When light travels between different materials, it bends due to a change in speed. This phenomenon is called refraction.Snell's law describes this behavior mathematically, relating the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices of the materials.A convex lens is thicker in the middle than at the edges. When parallel light rays pass through it, they converge at a point called the focal point.A concave lens is thinner in the middle than at the edges. When parallel light rays pass through it, they diverge or spread out.A magnifying glass is a practical application of a convex lens. It creates an enlarged virtual image of small objects.The optical power of a lens is measured in diopters, which is the reciprocal of the focal length in meters.When an object is placed beyond the focal point of a convex lens, a real image is formed on the opposite side.Different wavelengths of light bend by different amounts, causing chromatic aberration in simple lenses.To minimize chromatic aberration, we can combine different types of glass in an achromatic doublet.