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Question 183 of 199

Q.Derive the equation for effective focal length for lenses in contact.

Puducherry TnboardTamil Nadu HSC (DGE) Board 2024Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Applying the lens formula successively to two thin lenses in contact and eliminating the intermediate image distance gives 1/f=1/f1+1/f21/f = 1/f_1 + 1/f_2.

Derivation

Consider two thin lenses of focal lengths f1f_1 and f2f_2 placed in contact (coincident optical centres) on a common axis. An object O is placed at distance uu from the combination.

Lens 1 forms an image I1I_1 at distance v1v_1, acting alone:

1v1−1u=1f1...(1)\dfrac{1}{v_1} - \dfrac{1}{u} = \dfrac{1}{f_1} \quad \text{...(1)}

Since the lenses are in contact, this image I1I_1 acts as the object for lens 2. Lens 2 forms the final image II at distance vv from the combination:

1v−1v1=1f2...(2)\dfrac{1}{v} - \dfrac{1}{v_1} = \dfrac{1}{f_2} \quad \text{...(2)}

Adding equations (1) and (2), the intermediate term 1/v11/v_1 cancels:

1v−1u=1f1+1f2\dfrac{1}{v} - \dfrac{1}{u} = \dfrac{1}{f_1} + \dfrac{1}{f_2}

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