What is a Lens?

A lens is a transparent optical device that has the ability to refract (bend) and focus light rays. Lenses are typically made of glass or transparent plastic and have curved surfaces. 

Lens works on the principle of refraction i.e. When light rays fall on a lens, they bend due to differences in the refractive index of the atmosphere and material of the lens. Lenses come in different physical properties like size, shape, and curvatures, which significantly impact the image formed by them. 

Types of Lens

There are two types of lenses i.e., 

• Convex Lens: It is also called a converging lens as it converges the incoming light rays to its focal point on the other side of the lens. It is thinner at the edges and thicker at the center. It can produce real and inverted or virtual and upright images, of different sizes, depending on the position of the object. Convex Lens is used in glasses, cameras and telescopes.
• Concave Lens: It is also called a diverging lens as it diverges the incoming light rays. It is thicker at the edges and thinner at the center. Concave Lens produces virtual and upright images. It is found in glasses, flashlights and telescopes.

Read more about Convex and Concave Lens.

Mirror and Lens are optical instruments that are used to manipulate and focus light in various ways, making them essential components in fields such as photography, astronomy, microscopy, and vision correction. Mirrors and Lenses are the two most critical optical devices that play a vital role in our lives. Whether it’s the mirror we use to check our appearance regularly or the lenses in our eyeglasses, we can’t go a day without; these optical tools serve distinct purposes.

In this article, we will explore what is a mirror and a lens, their types, and ultimately, the key differences between a mirror and a lens to examine their unique characteristics.