22 1. GEOMETRICAL OPTICS
forward direction. If we could place a screen into the position of a virtual image,
we could not detect it because the rays toward it are diverging.
The case where n
1
>n
2
and r is positive is very similar and is discussed as
an application in FileFig 1.9.
Applications to Convex and Concave Spherical Surfaces
1. Single convex surface. A rod of material with refractive index n2 1.5 has
on the side facing the incident light a convex spherical surface with radius of
curvature r 50 cm.
a. What is the object distance in order to have the image at +7 cm?
b. What is the object distance in order to have the image at −7 cm?
c. Assume r 25 cm; make a graph of x
i
as a function of x
o
for n
1
1,
n
2
1.33, and do the graphical construction of the image (i) for real
objects before and after the object focal point, and (ii) for virtual objects
before and after the image focal point.
2. Rod sticks in water, calculation of image distance. A plastic rod of length 70
cm is stuck vertically in water. An object is positioned on the cross-section
at the top of the rod, which sticks out of the water and faces the sun. On the
other side in the water, the rod has a concave spherical surface, with respect
to the incident light from the sun, with r −4 cm. The refractive index of
the rod is n
1
1.5 and of water n
2
1.33. Calculate the image distance of
the object.
3. Single concave surface. A rod of material with refractive index n
2
1.5 has
on one side a concave spherical surface with radius of curvature r −50
cm.
a. What is the object distance in order to have the image at +5 cm?
b. What is the object distance in order to have the image at −5 cm?
c. Assume r 25 cm; make a graph of x
i
as a function of x
o
for n
1
1,
n
2
1.33, and do the graphical construction of the image (i) for real
objects before and after the image focal point, and (ii) for virtual objects
before and after the object focal point.
4. Plastic film on water as spherical surface. A plastic film is mounted on a ring
and placed on the surface of water. The film forms a spherical surface filled
with water. The thickness of the film is neglected and therefore we have a
convex surface of water of n
2
1.33. Sunlight is incident on the surface
and the image is observed 100 cm deep in the water. Calculate the radius of
curvature of the “spherical water surface.”