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The focal point F and focal length f of a positive (convex) lens, a negative (concave) lens, a concave mirror, and a convex mirror.. The focal length of an optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light; it is the inverse of the system's optical power.
The focal length f is considered negative for concave lenses. Incoming parallel rays are focused by a convex lens into an inverted real image one focal length from the lens, on the far side of the lens. Incoming parallel rays are focused by a convex lens into an inverted real image one focal length from the lens, on the far side of the lens
A 100 mm focal length f /4 lens has an entrance pupil diameter of 25 mm. A 100 mm focal length f /2 lens has an entrance pupil diameter of 50 mm. Since the area is proportional to the square of the pupil diameter, [6] the amount of light admitted by the f /2 lens is four times that of the f /4 lens.
If the medium surrounding an optical system has a refractive index of 1 (e.g., air or vacuum), then the distance from each principal plane to the corresponding focal point is just the focal length of the system. In the more general case, the distance to the foci is the focal length multiplied by the index of refraction of the medium.
The optical power of corrective lenses is measured in diopters, a value equal to the reciprocal of the focal length measured in metres; with a positive focal length corresponding to a converging lens and a negative focal length corresponding to a diverging lens. For lenses that correct for astigmatism as well, three numbers are given: one for ...
A system with a shorter focal length has greater optical power than one with a long focal length; that is, it bends the rays more strongly, bringing them to a focus in a shorter distance. In astronomy, the f-number is commonly referred to as the focal ratio notated as N {\displaystyle N} .
A normal lens typically has an angle of view that is close to one radian (~57.296˚) of the optical system's image circle. [citation needed] For 135 format (24 x 36 mm), with an escribed image circle diameter equal to the diagonal of the frame (43.266 mm), the focal length that has an angle of one radian of the inscribed circle is 39.6 mm; the focal length that has an angle of one radian of ...
For concave mirrors, whether the image is virtual or real depends on how large the object distance is compared to the focal length. If the 1 / f {\displaystyle 1/f} term is larger than the 1 / d o {\displaystyle 1/d_{\mathrm {o} }} term, then 1 / d i {\displaystyle 1/d_{\mathrm {i} }} is positive and the image is real.