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Physics of the eye key terms
Study Physics of the eye with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.
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key terms
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Topic
Physics of the eye
Key terms
lens power
The ability of a lens to converge or diverge light, calculated as the reciprocal of the focal length in meters.
image formation
The process by which light rays converge to create a visual representation of an object on the retina.
Accommodation
The process by which the eye adjusts the focal length of the lens to focus on objects at different distances.
Focusing
The adjustment of the eye's lens to ensure that light rays converge correctly on the retina to form a clear image.
Lens formula
The relationship between the object distance (u), image distance (v), and focal length (f) of a lens, given by the formula 1/f = 1/u + 1/v.
Optical power
The ability of a lens to converge or diverge light, defined as the reciprocal of the focal length in meters, P = 1/f (in diopters).
Optical Power
The optical power (P) of a lens is the reciprocal of its focal length (f) measured in meters, expressed as P = 1/f.
Focal Length
The focal length (f) of a lens is the distance from the lens to the focal point where parallel rays converge, typically measured in meters.
myopia
A vision defect where distant objects appear blurred due to the eye being too long or the cornea having too much curvature, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina.
hypermetropia
A vision defect where nearby objects appear blurred because the eye is too short or the cornea has too little curvature, resulting in light rays focusing behind the retina.
Diverging Lens
A lens that spreads out light rays that are initially parallel, causing them to diverge as if they originated from a focal point behind the lens.
Converging Lens
A lens that brings together light rays that are initially parallel, focusing them to a point on the opposite side of the lens.
ray diagram
A graphical representation used to show the path of light rays as they travel through optical systems, illustrating how images are formed by lenses.
corrected vision
Vision that has been improved to normal levels through the use of lenses or other optical devices, allowing for clear image formation on the retina.
Lens Power
The optical power of a lens, measured in diopters (D), defined as the reciprocal of the focal length in meters.
Focal Length
The distance from the lens to the focal point, where parallel rays of light converge, measured in meters (m).
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