Who invented ray diagrams

The type of image formed by a convex lens depends on the lens used and the distance from the object to the lens. Cameras and eyes contain convex lenses. For a distant object that is placed more than twice the focal length from the lens, the image is:.

Projectors contain convex lenses. For an object placed between one and two focal lengths from the lens, the image is:. In a film or data projector, this image is formed on a screen. Film must be loaded into the projector upside down so the projected image is the right way up. A magnifying glass is a convex lens used to make an object appear much larger than it actually is.

This works when the object is placed at a distance less than the focal length. The image is:. Only the person using the magnifying glass can see the image. These diagrams from the practically omniscient Hyperphysics website demonstrate the basic idea of lenses. How did we get to microscopes from our concepts about rays and lenses? We will need to talk about telescopes first though.

It makes sense in a historical way — looking at the ziggurats of the ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico we can see that the ancients were looking to the stars far before the time that society was wondering up what things were made of. In the diagram the ends of the axis of star are represented by P and Q. Antonie van Leeuwenhook made groundbreaking progress using the new microscopic technology when he discovered the red blood cell.

Note that both microscopes and telescopes utilize convex lenses from the first diagram because that type of lens focuses the light rays. So, is the microscope similar to a telescope? In this ray image from wiki, the image what the observer would see is the big red arrow and the little red arrow is the original object like a red blood cell.

By constructing at least two sets of incident and reflected rays, this image location can easily be found. If the object is represented by an arrow, then it is common practice to pick the two extreme positions the top and the bottom of the arrow as starting points for the incident and reflected rays. Ray construction will result in the determination of the image locations for these two extreme positions on the object.

The complete image is merely an arrow connecting these two image locations. This task is further simplified if the object is positioned as an arrow standing upon the principal axis of the mirror.

If this is the case, then the image will be standing upon the principal axis of the mirror and either inverted or upright. Of all the rays which emanate from the top of the object arrow and are incident to the mirror, there are two rays whose behavior at the mirror surface can be easily predicted. These are the two incident rays which are used in the ray construction.