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Physics LibreTexts

2.9: Derivation of Magnification

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Figure II.14 shows an optical element separating media of indices n1 and n2. I have drawn the element as an interface, though it could equally well be a lens (or, if I were to fold the drawing, a mirror). An image of height h is formed at a distance q of an object of height h at a distance p.

FIGURE II.14 .png

Assuming, as ever, that angles are small, we have

magnification=θ2qθ1p.

But Snell’s law, for small angles, is n1θ1=n2θ2, and therefore

magnification=n1qn2p=C1C2.


This page titled 2.9: Derivation of Magnification is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jeremy Tatum via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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