Magnification Factor Calculator

How to Use the Calculator

1. Enter the Object Distance (u) in centimeters. This is the distance from the object to the lens.
2. Enter the Image Distance (v) in centimeters. This is the distance from the image to the lens.
3. Click the Calculate button to compute the magnification factor.
4. The result will be displayed in the "Magnification Factor (m)" field.

Understanding Magnification Factor

The magnification factor (m) is a measure of how much larger or smaller the image is compared to the object. It is calculated using the formula:

m = v / u

Where:

• m = Magnification Factor
• v = Image Distance (in centimeters)
• u = Object Distance (in centimeters)

A magnification factor greater than 1 indicates that the image is larger than the object, while a value less than 1 indicates the image is smaller than the object.

Principle of Operation

This calculator uses the lens formula to calculate the magnification factor. The lens formula relates the object distance, image distance, and focal length of a lens:

1/f = 1/v + 1/u

Where f is the focal length of the lens. While this calculator doesn't directly calculate the focal length, it uses the object and image distances to determine how the lens magnifies the object.

Applications

The magnification factor is an important concept in optics and is used in various applications including:

• Camera lenses
• Microscopes
• Telescopes
• Projectors