Introduction

Optical Device’s are the devices that process light waves

to enhance an image for a more clear view. The use of
optical instruments, such as a magnifying lens or any
complicated device like a microscope or telescope, usually
makes things bigger and helps us see in a more detailed
manner.
Optical Instruments Example Let’s look at the optical
instruments list: Eyes,Lenses,Magnifying
glass,Telescope,Microscope.
The first optical instruments were telescopes used for
magnification of distant images, and microscopes used for
magnifying very tiny images. Since the days of Galileo and
Van Leeuwenhoek, these instruments have been greatly
improved and extended into other portions of the
electromagnetic spectrum. The binocular device is a
generally compact instrument for both eyes designed for
mobile use. A camera could be considered a type of optical
instrument, with the pinhole camera and camera obscura
being very simple examples of such devices.
Another class of optical instrument is used to analyze the
properties of light or optical materials. They include:
• Interferometer for measuring the interference properties
of light waves
• Photometer for measuring light intensity
• Polarimeter for measuring dispersion or rotation
of polarized light
• Reflectometer for measuring the reflectivity of a surface
or object
• Refractometer for measuring refractive index of various
materials
• Spectrometer or monochromator for generating or
measuring a portion of the optical spectrum, for the
purpose of chemical or material analysis
Microscope:

A microscope has two converging lenses. This is because it is

easier to get higher magnification with two lenses rather than
just one. Using one lens can magnify 5 times more and using a
second will magnify 7 times, and you will get an overall
magnification of 35, which is not possible with one lens. It’s an
easy procedure to get magnification by a factor of 35 with a
single lens. A ray diagram of the microscope arrangement is
given below. Here you can see the image is the object for the
second lens and the image formed by the second lens is the
image that you would see when you looked through the
microscope.
The Different Types of Microscopes
There are different types of microscopes and each of these has
different purposes of use. Some are suitable for biological
applications, while others are used in educational institutions.
There are also microscope types that find application in
metallurgy and studying three-dimensional samples.
In this article, there are 5 such microscope types that are
discussed along with their diagram, working principle and
applications. These five types of microscopes are:

1. Simple microscope
2. Compound microscope
Simple Microscope
A simple microscope is defined as the type of microscope that
uses a single lens for the magnification of the sample. A simple
microscope is a convex lens with a small focal length. The least
distance at which a small object can be seen clearly with comfort is
known as Near point (D) or distance of most distinct vision. For
normal eye this distance is 25 cm.
Simple Microscope Diagram
Principle of Simple Microscope
The working principle of a simple microscope is that when a
sample is placed within the focus of the microscope, a virtual,
erect and magnified image is obtained at the least distance of
distinct vision from the eye that is held at the lens.

Application of Simple Microscope

• It is common among the watchmakers as they can view a
magnified image of the smallest parts.
• It is also used by the jewellers for obtaining a magnified
image of the fine parts of the jewellery.
• Most educational institutions such as schools and colleges
use a simple microscope in their laboratories.
• Dermatologists (skin specialists) use simple microscopes
to identify different skin diseases
The magnification when the image is at infinity

Now, if object is kept is kept at the focal length (f) of a convex lens such that
its virtual Image is formed at a infinity. In this case we will have to obtained
the angular Magnification.
Suppose the object has a height h. The maximum angle it can subtend, and
be clearly Visible (without a lens), is when it is at the near point, i.e., a
Distance D. The angle subtended is then given by
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃𝑂 ≈ 𝜃𝑂 = ℎ/𝐷
We now find the angle subtended at the eye by the image when the object is
at u. From the relations
𝑚 =ℎ/′ℎ=𝑣/𝑢
ℎ′ =𝑣/𝑢 ℎ
we have the angle subtended by the image
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃𝑖 ≈ 𝜃𝑖 =ℎ′−𝑣=𝑣/𝑢 ℎ (1/−𝑣) =ℎ/−𝑢
The angle subtended by the object, when it is at u = –f.
𝜃𝑖 =ℎ/𝑓
The angular magnification is, therefore
𝑚 =𝜃i/𝜃𝑂=𝐷/f
The magnification when the image is at the closest comfortable distance
If the object is at a distance slightly less than the focal length of the lens, the
image is virtual and closer than infinity.
Although the closest comfortable distance for viewing the image is when it is
at the near point (distance D ≅ 25 cm), it causes some strain on the eye.
Therefore, the image formed at infinity is often considered most suitable for
viewing by the relaxed eye. The linear magnification m, for the image formed
at the near point D, by a simple microscope can be obtained by using the
relation.
𝑚 =𝑣/𝑢= 𝑣 (1/𝑣−1/𝑓) = (1 −𝑣/𝑓)
Now according to our sign convention, v is negative, and is equal in
magnitude to D. Thus, the magnification is 𝑚 = (1+𝐷/𝑓)
A simple microscope has a limited maximum magnification (≤ 9) for realistic
focal lengths.

Compound Microscope
A compound microscope is defined as the type of microscope
that has more than one lens. It has a combination of lenses and
two optical parts known as an objective lens and an eyepiece or
ocular lens.
A simple microscope has a limited maximum magnification (≤ 9)
for realistic focal lengths.
For much larger magnifications, one uses two lenses, one
compounding the effect of the
other. This is known as a compound microscope.
Compound Microscope Diagram

Principle of Compound Microscope

The working principle of the compound microscope is that the
combination of lenses enhances the magnification of the
sample. The sample is first viewed as a primary image in the
tube and viewed again in the eyepiece.

Applications of Compound Microscope

• The identification of diseases becomes easy in pathology
labs with the help of a compound microscope.
• Forensic laboratories use compound microscopes for the
detection of human fingerprints.
• The presence of metals can be detected with the help of a
compound microscope.
• The study of bacteria and viruses becomes easy with the
help of a compound microscope.
• Schools use compound microscopes for academic
purposes.

• The study of bacteria and viruses is possible with the help

of a compound microscope.
• A compound microscope finds application in forensic
laboratories.
• It is also used in metallurgy.

• When Final Image Is Formed At D

A schematic diagram of a compound microscope is shown in Fig.
The lens nearest the object, called the objective, And lens near to eye is
called eye piece
Objective forms a real inverted, magnified image of the object. A’B’.
This serves as the object for the eyepiece, which functions essentially
like a simple microscope or magnifier, produces the final image, which is
enlarged and virtual A”B” the distance between the second focal point of
the objective and the first focal point of the eyepiece (focal length fe ) is
called the tube length (L) of the compound microscope.
magnification
The ray diagram of fig. Shows that the (linear) magnification due to the
objective,
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 = (ℎ/𝑓𝑜) = (ℎ′/𝐿)
𝑚𝑜 =ℎ′/ℎ=𝐿/𝑓𝑜

Here h′ is the size of the first image, the object size being h and fo being
the focal length of the objective.

The first image is formed near the focal point of the eyepiece.
Magnification due to eyepiece which behaves as simple microscope is
given by
𝑚𝑒 = (1 +𝐷/𝑓𝑒)

Thus, the total magnification, when the image is formed at near point, is
𝑚 = 𝑚𝑜×𝑚𝑒 = (𝐿/𝑓𝑜) (1 +𝐷/𝑓𝑒)

• When Image Is Formed At Infinity

When the final image is formed at infinity, the angular magnification due
to the eyepiece
𝑚𝑒 = (𝐷/𝑓𝑒)

Thus, the total magnification, when the image is formed at infinity, is

𝑚 = 𝑚𝑜×𝑚𝑒 = (𝐿/𝑓𝑜) (𝐷/𝑓𝑒)

Astronomical telescope
The astronomical telescope consists of two lenses:
objective and eyepiece. Objective has larger focal length
and diameter to accommodate maximum amount of light
coming from the far away (astronomical) objects.
Principle of Astronomical telescope
The objective forms the real and inverted image of the distant
object at its focal plane. The distance of the eyepiece from the
objective is adjusted the final image is formed at the least
distance vision. In case the position of the eye is so adjusted
that the final image is formed at infinity.

To increase magnifying power of an astronomical telescope in

normal adjustment, the focal length of objective lens should
be the large and focal length of eye lens should be small.
 • When Final Image is Formed at D

It consists of two converging lenses placed coaxially. The one facing

the distant object is called the objective and has a large aperture
and a large focal length. The other is called the eyepiece, as the eye
is placed close to it. It has a smaller aperture and a smaller focal
length. The lenses are fixed in tubes. The eyepiece tube can slide
within the objective tube so that the separation between the
objective and the eyepiece may be changed.
When the telescope is directed towards a distant object PQ, the
objective forms a real image of the object in its focal plane. If the

point P is on the principal axis, the image point P is at the second

focus of the objective. The rays coming from Q are focused at Q′.
The eyepiece forms a magnified virtual image P″Q″ of P′Q. This
image is finally seen by the eye. In normal adjustment, the position
is so adjusted that the final image is formed at infinity. In such a
case, the first image P′Q is formed in the first focal plane of the
eyepiece. The eye is least strained to focus this final image. The
image can be brought closer by pushing the eyepiece closer to the
first image. Maximum angular magnification is produced when the
final image is formed at the near point.
Suppose, the objective and the eyepiece have focal lengths fo and
fe respectively and the object is situated at a large distance u0 from
the objective. The object PQ in figure subtends an angle αα on the
objective. Since the object is far away, the angle it would subtend
on the eye, if there were no telescope, is also essentiallyαα.
As u0 is very large, the first image P′Q′ is formed in the focal plane
of the objective.
From the figure,
|α|=|α′|≈|tanα′|=P′Q′/OP′=P′Q′/f0−−−(1)

The final image P″Q″ subtends an angleβ on the eyepiece. We have,

from the △P′Q′E
|β|≈|tanβ|=P′Q′/EP′−−−(2)

From (1) and (2)

|β/α|=f0/E′P′
If the telescope is set for normal adjustment so that the final image
is formed at infinity, the first image P′Q′ must be in the focal plane
of the eyepiece. Then E′P′ = fe.

|β/α|=f0/fe
The angular magnification or the magnifying power of the telescope
is defined as

m= angle subtended by the final image on the eye /angle subtended

by the object on the unaided eye
The anglesβ and αα are formed on the opposite sides of the axis.
Hence, their signs are opposite and βα is negative. Thus,
m=βα=−|βα|
m=−f0/fe
If the telescope is adjusted so that the final image is formed at the
near point of the eye, the angular magnification is further
increased. Let us apply the lens equation to the eyepiece in this
case.

Here u = E ′ P ′

and v = -E ′ P ′ = -D

The lens equation is

1/v−1/u=1/f

1/D−1/-E′P′=1fe
1/E′P′=1/fe+1/D=fe+D/feD
By (2)

|β/α|=fo(fe+D)/feD
The magnification is
m=β/α=−|βα|=fo(fe+D)/feD=−fo/fe(1+fe/D)

• When Final Image Is Formed At Infinity

Light from a distant object enters the objective and a real

image is formed in the tube at its second focal point.
The eyepiece magnifies this image producing a final
inverted image.
The magnifying power m is the ratio of the angle β
subtended at the eye by the final image to the angle α
which the object subtends at the lens or the eye.
Hence magnifying power m is given as ,

where fo is focal length of objective lens and fe is focal

length of eye piece

Telescopes:
As we use a telescope to view an object that is in a very distant
place, a telescope needs at least two lenses. The first lens
forms a diminished image that is nearer to its focal point. This
device is designed in a way so that the real and inverted image
formed by the first lens is just nearer to the second lens than its
focal length. With the help of a magnifying glass, we get an
enlarged image that is virtual. The final image is then inverted
with respect to the object. This doesn’t really matter with the
astronomical telescope. While observing an object that is on
earth, we usually prefer a straight image that is obtained using
the third lens.