Thin lens equation
Definition
The thin lens equation is a mathematical formula that relates the distance of an object from a lens, the distance of an image from the lens, and the focal length of the lens.
Analogy
Imagine you have a magnifying glass and you want to focus sunlight onto a piece of paper. The thin lens equation helps you determine how far away you need to hold the magnifying glass from the paper in order to create a clear and focused image.
Related terms
Focal length: The focal length is the distance between the center of a lens or mirror and its focal point.
Object distance: The object distance is the distance between an object and a lens or mirror.
Image distance: The image distance is the distance between an image formed by a lens or mirror and the lens or mirror itself.
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