Question 44
Lenses and Optical InstrumentsIn a light experiment with a convex lens a student plotted a graph, shown above (Fig. 6), of the reciprocal of object distance (1/U) against the reciprocal of the image distance (1/V). The focal length of the lens is given by

- A.slope of the line PQ
- B.reciprocal of either OP or OQ
- C.length OP or OQ
- D.area under the graph
- E.ratio OP/OQ.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B (reciprocal of either OP or OQ)
Explanation
From 1/U + 1/V = 1/f, each intercept (OP and OQ) equals 1/f, so f is the reciprocal of either intercept.