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Optics

Angular Magnification by a Simple Microscope continued

Consider an observer looking at an object placed at his/her least distance of distinct vision, D* (that is, placed at the near point, for that person), as shown below.

* The least distance of distinct vision is taken to be 25cm for a normal eye.

Assuming a is a small angle, a = h/D

Now consider the person to be using a simple microscope, with the object distance, u, chosen to produce an image at distance D from the lens. If the eye is placed close to the lens, the angle subtended at the eye by the image is approximately b = H/D

Therefore, in this case, the angular magnification, M is given by

 

 

Therefore, when the image distance is D, the angular magnification is equal to the linear magnification.

Rearranging the lens equation gives

In this case, M = v/u and v = D, therefore

for a simple microscope with the image at the near point of the observer.

© David Hoult 2008