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Q.Find the focal length of combination of two thin lenses in contact. OR Two lenses, one diverging of power 2D and the other converging of power 6D are combined together. Calculate the focal length and power of combination.

Punjab PsebPSEB Punjab Class 12 Board 2025Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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When two thin lenses are placed in contact, their combined focal length is found from 1/f=1/f1+1/f21/f = 1/f_1 + 1/f_2, derived by applying the lens formula twice in succession.

Consider two thin lenses of focal lengths f1f_1 and f2f_2 placed in contact (coaxially, touching). A point object O is placed on the axis at distance uu from the combination.

Step 1 — image by the first lens: The first lens alone would form an image I1I_1 at distance v1v_1, treating it as if it were the only lens present:

1v1−1u=1f1\frac{1}{v_1} - \frac{1}{u} = \frac{1}{f_1}

Step 2 — this image acts as the object for the second lens: Since the lenses are in contact, I1I_1 (at distance v1v_1) becomes the object for the second lens, which forms the final image II at distance vv:

1v−1v1=1f2\frac{1}{v} - \frac{1}{v_1} = \frac{1}{f_2}

Step 3 — add the two equations: Adding the two lens-formula equations eliminates v1v_1:

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

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