Calculating Chromatic Aberration

  • Thread starter Thread starter ab200
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Convex Lens
Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating chromatic aberration using the focal lengths of red and blue light through a convex lens. The calculations yield a focal length for red light of 76.923 cm and for blue light of 75.472 cm, resulting in a difference of 1.451 cm. The participant expresses uncertainty about the correct method for subtracting the radii of curvature of the lens surfaces, noting that both have the same radius. Ultimately, they indicate that they resolved the issue with assistance. The conversation highlights the complexities involved in optical calculations and the importance of accurate mathematical approaches.
ab200
Messages
13
Reaction score
3
Homework Statement
The dependence of glass's index of refraction on wavelength causes imperfect images. A parallel beam of white light falls on a convex glass lens. Both surfaces of the lens have a 20 cm radius of curvature. For the glass, nred = 1.52 and nblue = 1.53.

What is the space between the points that red light and blue light focus on the optical axis, in cm?
Relevant Equations
(1/s) + (1/s') = 1/f = (n-1)[(1/R1) - (1/R2)]
Since the lens is convex, I figured that the points where the red and blue light focus on the optical axis would be equal to their respective focal lengths (f), given that the incoming rays are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the lens.

Solving this got me to 1/fred = (1.52 - 1)[(1/20) + (1/20)] = 0.013, so fred = 76.923 cm.
1/fblue = (1.53 - 1)[(1/20) + (1/20)] = 0.01325, so fblue = 75.472 cm.
Subtracting the two gives me 1.451 cm, but that isn't correct.

What I'm not sure about is whether I am subtracting R1 and R2 correctly. Both surfaces have the same radius of curvature, but I can't simply subtract them or I would end up with 0 on the right side of the equation, which doesn't make sense.

Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/forums/introductory-physics-homework-help.153/post-thread
 
Physics news on Phys.org
ab200 said:
(1.52 - 1)[(1/20) + (1/20)] = 0.013,
Really?
 
haruspex said:
Really?
Alas, it is not. I figure it out though! Thank you for your help.
 
Beams of electrons and protons move parallel to each other in the same direction. They ______. a. attract each other. b. repel each other. c. neither attract nor repel. d. the force of attraction or repulsion depends upon the speed of the beams. This is a previous-year-question of CBSE Board 2023. The answer key marks (b) as the right option. I want to know why we are ignoring Coulomb's force?