Physics (LAB REPORT 1)

Determination of a focal length
of a mirror and lens

Student Number: 20107007
Name: Colm Corbett
Module: Engineering Physics 2
Lab Date: 8/2/24
Title: Determination of a focal length of a mirror and lens
Date and name of lab partner.

08/02/24 – Keevan Doherty, Ché Scott
Aim
To determine the focal length of a concave mirror and a convex lens.
Introduction and Theory

The focal length of a mirror or convex lens is the distance between the
concentration point of light and the lens/ mirror itself.
This experiment allows us to visualize the relationship between the distance the
lens is from the light and the then change in distance to the focal point of the
lens.
The convex lens will narrow the projection of light into one defined point which
will be considered f in this instance. The distance from the light source and the
lens will be u along with the distance from the lens to the screen will be v.
The concave mirror will deflect the light back towards the source in a focal
point. We will also use u and v to find the focal point f.
General Lens/ Mirror Equation
1 1 1
+𝑣 =𝑓
𝑢
Materials and Apparatus

• Light box
• Convex lens
• Concave mirror
• Meter stick
• Lens holder.
• Screen fixed to a stand.
• Workbench
Experimental method
1. Lay out each object as shown in the picture below.
2. Firstly, using the convex lens. Position the lens 15cm from the light
source and move the screen in a linear direction until a defined focal
point is seen.
3. Record the distance from the light source to the lens, u, and the distance
from the lens to the screen, v.
4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 10 times increasing u by 5cm each time and shifting
the screen until the focus point is focused.
5. Once measurements are completed use the formula shown above to
determine f.
6. Plot a graph of 1/v versus 1/u, using the slope of the graph determine the
focal value for f.
7. Repeat for the concave mirror.
Results/Data Analysis
Focus Lens
U V 1/U 1/V 1/F F
15 25 0.066667 0.04 0.106667
20 20 0.05 0.05 0.1
25 16 0.04 0.0625 0.1025
30 15 0.033333 0.066667 0.1
35 14 0.028571 0.071429 0.1
40 13 0.025 0.076923 0.101923 9.3
45 12 0.022222 0.083333 0.105556
50 11 0.02 0.090909 0.110909
55 11 0.018182 0.090909 0.109091
60 11 0.016667 0.090909 0.107576
65 11 0.015385 0.090909 0.106294
Focus Lens
0.1
0.09
0.08
0.07
0.06
1/V
0.05
0.04
y = -1.0858x + 0.1072
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07
1/U
From the results above there is a proportional change in u and v. This indicates
that as, u, the distance between the light source and lens grows, the distance of,
v, the distance between the lens and screens grows smaller.
Mirror
U V 1/U 1/V 1/F F
45 45 0.022222 0.022222 0.044444
48 43 0.020833 0.023256 0.044089
51 41 0.019608 0.02439 0.043998
54 39 0.018519 0.025641 0.04416
57 37 0.017544 0.027027 0.044571 15
60 35 0.016667 0.028571 0.045238
62 32 0.016129 0.03125 0.047379
64 29 0.015625 0.034483 0.050108
66 26 0.015152 0.038462 0.053613
Mirror
0.045
0.04
0.035
0.03
0.025
1/V
0.02 y = -2.0144x + 0.0647

0.015
0.01
0.005
0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025
1/U
As the value of u grows the value of v also grows smaller similarly to the
convex lens.
Discussion/Conclusion
From the results we can conclude that the results for the focus lens are
proportional meaning that as the lens moves father away from the light source
the focal point of the projection grows closer to the lens itself.
The expected value for the convex lens is 10cm for which case we found it to be
9.3cm.
9.3−10
Percentage error = 𝑥 100 = -7%
10
With the mirror we can see that as the mirror moves further away from the light
source the focal point of it moves closer but not to the same degree as the focal
lens. My thoughts are that this is since the focal lens concentrates the light
better than the mirror allowing it to become more focused as its placed further
away from the light source.
The expected value for the concave mirror is 10cm for which case we found it
to be 15cm.
15−10
Percentage error = 50% 𝑥 100 =
10
The error for this part of the experiment seems to be remarkably high although
the experiment was carried out with the same method as the convex lens.

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Determination of a focal length

of a mirror and lens

Date and name of lab partner.

Introduction and Theory

Materials and Apparatus

0.02 y = -2.0144x + 0.0647

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