Optical
instruments
What are optical instruments
An optical instrument is a device that processes light waves, either
to enhance an image for viewing or to analyze and determine their
characteristic properties. Common examples include periscopes,
microscopes, telescopes, and cameras.
The simple magnifier
The simple magnifier is one of the most basic of all optical
instruments. It consists of a converging lens. It is used to
increase the apparent size of an object.
The microscope
It is composed of 2 lenses: the
objective lens and the eyepiece
lens. Both have short focal
lengths.
The objective lens forms a real
inverted image which is near the
focal length of the eyepiece.
The eyepiece gives us a
magnified virtual image of the
object.
The telescope
The observation of stars and different kind of
celestial bodies is achieved only by the use of
the telescope.
There are two types of microscopes 1.
Refractive 2. Reflective telescope.
The refractive telescope
The refractive telescope contains two converging lenses called
the objective in the eyepiece. The focal length of the objective
is very long and the eyepiece is employed as a simple
magnifier.
The first image of the object located at infinity is formed by
the objective at its focal point. It is also inverted real near the
focal point of the eyepiece.
The first image serves as a real object for the eyepiece which
acts as a magnifier and forms of virtual inverted image.
The reflective telescope
Reflective telescope consist of large barrel with a concave
mirror at the bottom, a plane mirror place near the focal point
of a concave mirror, and the tube mounted in the middle of the
barrel with an eyepiece lens in it.
The concave mirror is the objective of the telescope. Rays
coming from stars are incident on the concave mirror and
reflected towards the focal point of a concave mirror.
Since the plane mirror is positioned before the focal point the
rays are reflected by the plane mirror towards the eyepiece
lens in the tube. After passing through the eyepiece lens, the
rays reach the eye.
The binoculars
An inverted image is not a disadvantage for astronomical
observations. However, images of objects observed by
telescope or binoculars for viewing scenes on earth might be
upright. This inversion is accomplished by means of a pair of
45° 90° 45° prisms, which make the rays undergo for total
internal reflection from the inclined faces of the prisms.
Moreover, this system makes the instrument shorter by
foldings optical path back along itself.
Thank you for your attention
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