Lens (optics)
Lens (optics)
The Lens (pronounced: /lɛnz/) in Optics is a transmissive Optical device that focuses or disperses a light beam by means of Refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (elements), usually arranged along a common axis.
Etymology
The word lens comes from the Latin word "lens", which means lentil, because a double-convex lens is lentil-shaped. The genus of the lentil plant is Lens, and the most commonly eaten species is Lens culinaris. The lentil plant also gives its name to a geometric figure.
Types of Lenses
There are two main types of lenses, known as convex and concave. A convex lens focuses light rays, whereas a concave lens disperses them.
Related Terms
- Focal length: The distance over which initially collimated rays are brought to a focus by the lens.
- Optical power: The degree to which a lens converges or diverges light.
- Aperture: The opening through which light travels.
- Prism: A transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light.
- Optical axis: A line along which there is some degree of rotational symmetry in an optical system such as a camera lens or microscope.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lens (optics)
- Wikipedia's article - Lens (optics)
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