A lens is known as an optical instrument that either converges or diverges the light beam that incidents on its surface by using the principle of refraction. The power of the lens is defined in terms of a measure of convergence or divergence, the lens introduces the light rays that incident on it. Here we will see how a concave lens is different from a convex.
Overview:
A convex lens is also known as a convergent lens. It is a lens that converges light rays passing parallel to its main axis. They can be identified by their shape. The upper and lower edges are relatively thin and the middle portion is thick. Concave and Convex are two types of lenses that possess variation in physical shape as well as their properties. On the contrary, a convex lens has the ability to converge the light rays passing through it. A concave lens possesses at least one surface that curves inwards. It is a diverging lens, meaning that a concave lens spreads out light rays that have been refracted through it. A concave lens is thinner at its center than at its edges
What is Concave lens?
A concave lens is a type of optical lens where the surface of the glass is curved in an inward direction. The concave lens is thinner at the center and gets thicker as we move towards the edges. A concave lens is a lens that diverges a straight light beam from the source to a diminished, upright, virtual image. the concave lens can form both real and virtual images. it has at least one surface curved inside. this lens is also known as a diverging lens because it is shaped round inwards at the center and bulges outwards through the edges, making the light diverge.
What is Convex lens?
A type of optical lens whose surface is bulged in an outward direction. A convex lens is thicker at the center and thinner at the edges. An optical lens is made up of two spherical surfaces. If those surfaces are bent outwards, the lens is called a biconvex lens. These types of lenses can converge a beam of light coming from outside and focus it to a point on the other side. This point is known as the focus and the distance between the center of the lens to the focus is called the focal length of convex lens.
Concave Vs. Convex Lens:
| Concave Lens | Convex Lens |
| A convex lens is thinner in the middle and thicker at the edges. | A convex lens is thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges. |
| It is also known as a diverging lens. | It is also known as a converging lens. |
| A concave lens is also used in glasses, some telescopes, etc. | A convex lens also uses in cameras, projectors, etc. |
| It has a negative focal length. | It has a positive focal length. |
| It produces virtual images. | It produces real images. |
| It is used to treat myopia. | It is used to treat hypermetropia |
Types of Convex Lens:
there are three types of convex lens:
- Biconvex lens.
- Plano-convex lens.
- Concave-convex lens.
The different purposes including glass enlargement, mirror, telescope, hypermetropia correction etc.
Types of Concave Lens:
there are three types of concave lenses:
- biconcave lens
- planoconcave
- convexoconcave
Uses of Concave and Convex Lenses in Practical Life:
Magnifying Glasses: The most general use of the convex lens is in magnifying glasses. if an object is placed on one side of a convex lens closer to the focal point, the image of the object is formed on the same side as the object and is highly magnified in a magnifying glass,
The angle subtended at the eye. The position of image and magnification produced will also depend on the position of the object.
Eyeglasses: When the lenses of the eyes of an individual fail to clearly focus the light of the retina, it causes far-sightedness or near-sightedness problems. The convex lens is used for solving the long-sightedness or hypermetropia problem by bending the light ray that shortens the focal length and thus, properly focuses the light ray on the retina.
Cameras: In the camera, the convex lens is used to focus and magnify the image. There are a number of lenses that are inserted where one concave lens is followed by a convex lens. The magnification of the image happens due to the convex-shaped front lens of the camera. in a camera, the distance between image and lens is fixed at its focal length.
Conclusion
The difference between Concave Vs. Convex Lens is that the concave lens refers to the lens which disperses the light rays when contacted with the lens. A concave lens is used for myopia to correct shortsightedness, but a convex lens is used to correct hyperopia to correct farsightedness. Thus, the above discussion between a concave and a convex lens concludes that both have different physical shapes and generates different forms of images when light rays incident on it thus have different applications.
