Optical Instruments
Shared 3/8/2026•92 views
### Optical Instruments Overview This cheatsheet summarizes common optical instruments, their components, and image characteristics. | Instrument | Objective Lens | Eyepiece Lens | Intermediate Image | Final Image | Orientation | Key Feature/Why? | | :------------------- | :----------------- | :-------------------- | :---------------------------------------- | :---------- | :---------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Simple Microscope** | One convex lens | — | — | Virtual | Erect | Object between F and lens; rays appear to come from behind object | | **Compound Microscope** | Convex (short f) | Convex | Real (inverted) | Virtual | Inverted | Objective inverts once; eyepiece magnifies but doesn't re-invert | | **Astronomical Telescope** | Convex (long f) | Convex | Real (inverted) | Virtual | Inverted | Same as compound microscope — objective inverts once | | **Galilean Telescope** | Convex | Concave | Virtual (for eyepiece) | Virtual | Erect | Concave eyepiece intercepts rays before they meet; no inversion | | **Terrestrial Telescope** | Convex | Convex + Erecting lens | Real (inverted) → Erecting lens makes 2nd real image erect | Virtual | Erect | Third lens (or prisms) reinverts image before eyepiece | | **Binoculars** | Convex | Convex + Prisms | Real → prisms reinvert | Virtual | Erect | Prisms cause total internal reflection to flip image upright | ### Key Patterns to Remember #### Virtual vs. Real Images - **Real Image:** Can be projected on a screen (light rays actually converge). - **Virtual Image:** Cannot be projected (light rays only appear to diverge from a point). **Note:** The final image in all these instruments is **ALWAYS virtual** because you are looking through an eyepiece which acts as a simple magnifier. Only intermediate images can be real. #### Erect vs. Inverted Final Images - **Simple Microscope:** Erect (only one lens, object inside focal point). - **Compound Microscope:** Inverted (objective inverts once). - **Astronomical Telescope:** Inverted (objective inverts once). - **Galilean Telescope:** Erect (concave eyepiece effectively reinverts). - **Terrestrial Telescope:** Erect (uses an additional erecting lens or prism system). - **Binoculars:** Erect (uses prisms for reinversion). ### Quick Memory Tricks | If you want... | Use... | | :------------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------- | | Erect image, one lens | Simple microscope | | High magnification, don't care about upside down | Compound microscope | | Looking at stars, don't care about upside down | Astronomical telescope | | Looking at birds on Earth (upright), simple design | Galilean telescope | | Looking at birds on Earth, better quality | Terrestrial Telescope or Binoculars | ### Self-Test Questions 1. Which instrument gives an erect final image with only two lenses, one of which is concave? 2. Which instrument gives an inverted final image but is used for stars? 3. Which instrument uses prisms to make the image erect?
