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Geometric Optics

How does a lens form an image? See how light rays are refracted by a lens. Watch how the image changes when you adjust the focal length of the lens, move the object, move the lens, or move the screen.

 
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Version 2.03
362 KB
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Topics Teaching Ideas Software Requirements Translated Versions Credits

Topics

Main Topics

  • Refraction
  • Lens
  • Optics

Related Topics

Sample Learning Goals

  • Explain how an image is formed by a converging lens using ray diagrams.
  • How changing the lens (radius, index and diameter) effects where the image appears and how it looks (magnification, brightness and inversion.

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Teaching Ideas

Tips for Teachers

There is no teacher's guide for this simulation.

Ideas and Activities for this Sim

There are 10 contributions listed.

Title Author Level Type Ascending Sort (Z-A)Updated
Lenses and their Images S. GrahamHSLab4/07
Geometric Optics A. JordanHSLab9/07
Images from Convex Lenses (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconImage of Gold StarT. LoebleinHSLab
CQs		11/08
Wave clicker questions (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconT. LoebleinHS
UG-Intro		CQs11/08
Ray Optics PhET Lab C. BiresUG-Intro
HS		Lab1/09
Lens Equation Experiment using Excel E. ChomkaHSLab1/09
Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconImage of Gold StarT. LoebleinUG-Intro
HS		CQs8/09
Wave unit (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconImage of Gold StarT. LoebleinUG-Intro
HS		CQs
Lab
Demo		8/09
unit of focal length J. ShengHSDemo9/09
Optics Online S. McCurdyMS
HS		Lab
HW
CQs
Demo		10/09

Submit Your Ideas & Activities

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Check the PhET design guidelines (PDF)

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Software Requirements

Flash Icon

Windows Systems Macintosh Systems Linux Systems
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7
Macromedia Flash 8 or later
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later, or Firefox 2 or later
 OS 10.4.11 or later
Macromedia Flash 8 or later
Safari 2 or later, or Firefox 2 or later
 Macromedia Flash 8 or later
Firefox 2 or later

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Translated Versions

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Credits

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Michael Dubson (developer/lead)
  • Kathy Perkins
  • Interviewer: Mindy Gratny
  • Interviewer: Danielle Harlow
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