Physics

Physics

Problem

2007B6. You are asked to experimentally determine the focal length of a converging lens. (a) Your teacher first asks you to estimate the focal length by using a distant tree visible through the laboratory window. Explain how you will estimate the focal length. To verify the value of the focal length, you are to measure several object distances sos_{o} and image distances sis_{i} using equipment that can be set up on a tabletop in the laboratory. (b) In addition to the lens, which of the following equipment would you use to obtain the data? ___\_\_\_ Lighted candle ___\_\_\_ Candleholder ___\_\_\_ Desk lamp ___\_\_\_ Plane mirror ___\_\_\_ Vernier caliper ___\_\_\_ Meterstick ___\_\_\_ Ruler ___\_\_\_ Lens holder ___\_\_\_ Stopwatch ___\_\_\_ Screen ___\_\_\_ Diffraction grating (c) On the tabletop below, sketch the setup used to obtain the data, labeling the lens, the distances sos_{o} and sis_{i}, and the equipment checked in part (b). ## Tabletop You are to determine the focal length using a linear graph of 1/si1 / s_{i} versus 1/so1 / s_{o}. Assume that you obtain the following data for object distance sos_{o} and image distance sis_{i}.
Trial \#so( m)s_{o}(\mathrm{~m})si( m)s_{i}(\mathrm{~m})1/so( m−1)1 / s_{o}\left(\mathrm{~m}^{-1}\right)1/si( m−1)1 / s_{i}\left(\mathrm{~m}^{-1}\right)
10.401.102.50.91
20.500.752.01.3
30.600.601.71.7
40.800.501.22.0
51.200.380.832.6
(d) On the grid below, plot the points in the last two columns of the table above and draw a best-fit line through the points. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/diraq-contents/question-bank/question-images/cfe44d7de04a/2025_11_20_b4c87f8716f7c4a9fa5bg-36.jpg) (e) Calculate the focal length from the best-fit line.

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