Verified Solution Science The Human Eye and the Colourful World

A person has a near point of 100 cm and a far point of 500 cm. He wants to be able to read a book at 25 cm and see distant objects. Calculate the powers of the bifocal lenses he needs.

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Answer

To see distant objects (infinity): The far point is 500 cm. The lens should form an image of an object at infinity (u = -infinity) at 500 cm (v = -500 cm). For a concave lens: 1/f = 1/(-500) - 1/(-infinity) = -1/500. f = -500 cm = -5 m. Power P1 = 1/f = 1/(-5) = -0.2 D.
To read a book at 25 cm: The near point is 100 cm. The lens should form an image of an object at 25 cm (u = -25 cm) at 100 cm (v = -100 cm). For a convex lens: 1/f = 1/(-100) - 1/(-25) = -1/100 + 4/100 = 3/100. f = 100/3 cm ≈ 33.33 cm ≈ 0.3333 m. Power P2 = 1/f = 1/0.3333 ≈ +3.0 D.
He needs bifocal lenses with the upper part having power -0.2 D (concave) and the lower part having power +3.0 D (convex).

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