written by
Michael Davidson and Shannon Neaves
published by
the Olympus America, Inc. and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
This item is an introductory tutorial on the topic of lenses. It explains how lenses are classified according to their curvature and the type of refraction that occurs when light travels through them. Each classification is supplemented with drawings illustrating the focal planes and geometric properties of various types of lenses. Also included is a Java simulation of lens shape and action.
This item is part of a larger collection of materials for students of introductory optics on the topic of light and color. See Related item to link to the full index on this topic.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6746">Davidson, Michael, and Shannon Neaves. Molecular Expressions: Light and Color - Introduction to Lenses. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., January 26, 2008.</a>
M. Davidson and S. Neaves, (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 2003), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/lenses.html).
M. Davidson and S. Neaves, Molecular Expressions: Light and Color - Introduction to Lenses (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 2003), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/lenses.html>.
Davidson, M., & Neaves, S. (2008, January 26). Molecular Expressions: Light and Color - Introduction to Lenses. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from Olympus America, Inc.: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/lenses.html
Davidson, Michael, and Shannon Neaves. Molecular Expressions: Light and Color - Introduction to Lenses. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., January 26, 2008. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/lenses.html (accessed 12 February 2025).
%A Michael Davidson %A Shannon Neaves %T Molecular Expressions: Light and Color - Introduction to Lenses %D January 26, 2008 %I Olympus America, Inc. %C Center Valley %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/lenses.html %O text/html
%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %A Neaves, Shannon %D January 26, 2008 %T Molecular Expressions: Light and Color - Introduction to Lenses %I Olympus America, Inc. %V 2025 %N 12 February 2025 %8 January 26, 2008 %9 text/html %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/lenses.html
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This page is the full index of materials by the same authors on Light and Color. It contains tutorials on electromagnetic radiation, properties of light, reflection, refraction, diffraction, human vision, light filtration, and polarization of light. It also links to more than 25 related Java simulations.
This item is an interactive Java simulation in which users control a slider to produce concave or convex lens surfaces and explore how the lens shape affects light refraction.