How Magnifying Lenses Work
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Convex Lenses
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Magnifying glasses are convex lenses. To make a convex lens, a piece of glass or plastic is molded or ground into a shape like a flattened oval. Light that flows through the oval is redirected in such a way as to make the image seem bigger to the naked eye, allowing the viewer to take in more detail. Convex Lenses are not only used in magnifying glasses, but in microscopes, telescopes and other devices designed to magnify images.
Refraction
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Magnifying lenses work on a principle called refraction. Light moves at different speeds in different materials. When light moves from a less dense material such as air to a more dense material such as glass or plastic, it slows down rapidly, causing it to bend. A magnifying glass is curved to bend the light shining into it so it meets in a single point called the focal point. If an observer puts his eyes at the focal point, he will be able to see a much larger, more detailed image than he normally would.
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Lens Power
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Not all magnifying glasses are the same. One of the most important qualities to look for in a magnifying glass is size. The larger the magnifying glass is, the more light it can gather. The more light the glass gathers, the brighter and clearer the image will look to you. Another important characteristic of magnifying glasses is the focal length--the distance from the center of the lens to the focal point. The longer the focal length, the more the lens will enlarge the image. Many lenses are rated by their powers of magnification rather than their focal length. For example, a 10x magnifying glass will make an image 10 times bigger than it would normally be.
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