How Does Lens Thickness Affect Focal Length?

[itryphysics]

Hi All!

Im a bit confused regarding the relationship between focal length and the thickness of a lense. In the lab that we performed, my data seems to be skewed and I am unable to decipher the trend. Can someone explainwhat happens to the focal length as the thickness of the lenses descreases? does it decrease or increase? .. I am thinking it decrease. kindly let me know and please provide a brief explanation. thank you!

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi itryphysics!

It depends, mostly, on the radius of curvature rather than the thickness … see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focal_length