How do magnifying glass works?

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Usually when you see a magnifying glass, the first thing that comes to mind is a Hercules Poirot or Sherlock Holmes carrying out some investigation in a detective fiction. The magnifying glasses are used to see things in a magnified way and in great detail.

When was the magnifying glass used for the first time?

The first presence of magnifying glass is traced to 11th century when Abu Ali al-Hasan Ibn al-Haytham , an Arab scientist published ‘Book of Optics’ in which he has described in detail the utility of convex lens in developing a magnifying glass. The concept of refraction and reflection too were studied by Euclid in 300 BC and Ptolemy in150 BC. But the first real theory about magnifying glass and its utility for poor vision was put forth by Roger Bacon during the 13th century.

The importance of magnifying glasses really took off with the invention of microscope during the 16th century followed by the invention of telescope in the 17th century. This opened lot of options for its practical use in the medical as well as science field.

How does magnifying glass looks like?

A magnifying glass has two sides having convex lens, also called as biconvex. These glasses are usually framed in circular metal ring with handle or can be attached to a platform or even a stand depending upon the use. Convex lens have the special quality of bending light at one angle from one side and producing it at another angle from the other side. Due to this light refraction, at the focal point an inverted image is formed. So how do convex lens magnify the material or the image? As you must have seen convex lenses have a bulge. This bulge collects light from the surrounding area and uses it in condensed form due to which the image on the side of the viewer appears bright and sharp. The distance up to the location where image gets formed is termed as focal length of lens whereas the distance between the lens and the object being viewed is termed as focal length of the object.

How do magnifying glass works?

A magnifying glass makes the image being observed look enlarged from the other side. This can happen because the magnifying glass generates a virtual image by making use of your retina as well as the lens in your eyes and which are nearer to the convex lens in the magnifying glass.

So how do convex lens magnify the material or the image? As you must have seen convex lenses have a bulge. This bulge collects light from the surrounding area and uses it in condensed form due to which the image on the side of the viewer appears bright and sharp. The distance up to the location where image gets formed is termed as focal length of lens whereas the distance between the lens and the object being viewed is termed as focal length of the object.

What are the applications of magnifying glass?

Magnifying glass is used for measuring on scale, especially by printers for checking papers and color registers. These are also used with built-in light for working on small art works and crafts as well as for reading. For using it in textiles or for designing jewelry, magnifying glass is mounted on stand with special elevation and adjustment so that the whole paper or working platform can be view through this glass. It is also used in computer software to make the screen more magnified for people with vision problems.


 

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