Discovering the Focal Length Fun!

How can you determine the focal length of a magnifying glass?

To determine the focal length of a magnifying glass, what do you need?

Answer:

You will need a magnifying glass and a small piece of scrap paper for this demonstration. Go outside on a sunny day and put the piece of paper on a patch of asphalt, concrete, or a large flat rock. Hold the magnifying glass close to the paper with rays of sunlight shining through it and move it until the most concentrated ray of light is shining on the paper. Measure the distance between the focal point and the magnifying glass to determine the focal length.

Discovering the focal length of a magnifying glass can be a fun and educational experiment! By following the steps provided above, you can easily determine the focal length with just a magnifying glass and a piece of scrap paper. Make sure to conduct this experiment in a safe outdoor space away from any combustible materials or debris.

The focal length is an important characteristic of a magnifying glass as it determines the distance between the lens and the point where the light rays converge. Understanding the focal length can help you better utilize the magnifying glass for different purposes, whether it's igniting paper under sunlight or reading text in a book indoors.