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PRACTICE / Refraction at a spherical surface

Focus at a single surface

Light travels left to right from air (n₁ = 1.0) into a semi-infinite medium (n₂ = 1.5) through a spherical surface. A point object is 0.30 m left of the vertex. The center of curvature is 0.10 m right of the vertex.

Find the signed image distance from the vertex, taking right as positive.

Organize the givens & assumptions
  • n₁ = 1.0, n₂ = 1.5
  • u = −0.30 m
  • R = +0.10 m

Paraxial refraction at a single interface; u = −0.30 m and R = +0.10 m in the stated Cartesian convention.

  1. A+0.90 m+0.90\ \mathrm m
  2. B+0.18 m+0.18\ \mathrm m
  3. C−0.90 m-0.90\ \mathrm m
  4. D+0.60 m+0.60\ \mathrm m

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