Draw a ray diagram to show how a converging lens can cause spherical aberration - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 4

To illustrate how a converging lens causes spherical aberration:

1. Draw the Lens and Principal Axis: Begin by sketching the converging lens in the center of your diagram. Draw a horizontal line to represent the principal axis extending through the lens.

2. Indicate the Focal Points: Mark the focal points on both sides of the lens, labeling them as F (for focal point).

3. Draw the Incoming Rays: Draw two pairs of rays originating from the same object and parallel to the principal axis.

   • The first pair of rays should be drawn slightly above the principal axis; both will refract through the lens and converge at a point closer to the lens than the focal point due to spherical aberration.
   • The second pair of rays should be drawn slightly below the principal axis; these will also refract through the lens but might converge at a point farther than the first pair, illustrating the effect of spherical aberration.

4. Label the Diagram: Clearly label the principal focus of each ray diverging from the lens and denote the ray paths to show how they converge at different points. This highlights how not all rays meet at the same focal point, illustrating spherical aberration.