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Separate Physics · Paper 2 · Foundation + Higher · P6

Lenses, principal focus and focal length

Key ideas1 of 3

A lens refracts light

A lens forms an image by refracting light at its surfaces. A convex lens is thicker at its centre than at its edges and is a converging lens. Rays travelling parallel to the principal axis are brought together at the principal focus on the far side. The focal length is the distance along the principal axis from the lens to this point.

Parallel incident rays pass through a lens; F and distance f are marked.

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Practice, downloads and sources

Daily 5 · Exam practice · Revision sheet ↓

Foundation + Higher · P6. Use alongside the shared P6 lessons.

AQA GCSE Physics 8463 · 4.6.2.5. Original notes, questions and diagrams. Models are simplified; teaching data are illustrative.