Key Words convex concave hand lens microscope binoculars telescope periscope paz Optical Tools @ [ol sons Getting the Idea ed In the last lesson, you learned that lenses and mirrors change the path of light. Lenses and mirrors are used in optical tools such as microscopes and telescopes. Optical means “having to do with sight.” In this lesson, you will learn how optical tools change the way we see things. Changing the Path of Light Remember that lenses refract light and mirrors reflect light. The shape of a lens or mirror affects how it changes light’s path. There are two basic types of lenses—convex and concave. A convex object is rounded outward. A concave object is rounded inward, like the inside of a bowl. A convex lens is thicker in the middie than at its edges. A convex lens bends light inward. The light bends toward a point called the focus. A concave lens has thicker edges and a thinner middle. A concave lens bends light outward. Convex lens SS —-f Focus ar —_—_4 x cal ~—-—t +o: a| | | | The surfaces of mirrors can also have different shapes. The diagrams below show three types of mirrors. Each one reflects light differently. Focus point Plane mirror Concave mirror Convex mirror The mirror you use to see a reflection of yourself is a flat, or plane, mirror. You learned about plane mirrots in the 7 last lesson. A plane mirror produces an upright image that is the same size as the original object. A concave mirror reflects light toward a single point or focus. If an object is close to a concave mirror, an upright image appeers that is larger than the object. If the object is far from the mirror, the image is smaller than the object and upside down. A convex mirror reflects light outward in different directions. it creates an image your eyes see as upright and smaller than the object. Optical Tools Contact lenses and eyeglasses help people see more clearly. People who are farsighted have trouble seeing objects that are close. People who are nearsighted cannot see faraway objects clearly. Farsighted people need convex lenses. Nearsighted people need concave lenses. The lenses change the path of light to a part of the eye called the retina. You will learn more about the human eye in Lesson 19.Lesson 12: Optical Tools Many optical tools are useful in science. It is important to choose the correct tool for the object you want to observe. A hand lens is a tool that makes small things appear larger. It is a lens with two convex sides that is attached toa handle. You might use a hand lens to view details of a leaf or an insect. A microscope makes extremely small things appear much larger. You can use a microscope to view very tiny things, such as cells of living things. The kind of microscope that you will use in school has both convex and concave lenses. It may also have a mirror. Binoculars are a tool that makes faraway objects appear closer. Binoculars contain two convex lenses, one for each eye. Binoculars may also contain concave lenses to help focus images more clearly. You might use binoculars to view a bird in a tree or mountains in the distance. A telescope makes very distant objects appear much closer. You would use a telescope to view objects in the night sky, such as our moon or other planets. A simple refracting telescope contains two convex lenses. A reflecting telescope uses a concave mirror, a plane mirror, and a convex lens. Refracting Telescope Reflecting Telescope Objective lens tight Eyepiece lens Light rays rays Concave mirror, Prams iniinoe