Mammoth Memory

Convex lenses and centre of curvature

If you take a clear rectangular block of plastic and cut two circles out of the block as follows:

Convex lens formed from cutting out two circles

you get a convex lens.

 

This is great news because this is a terrific way to remember that a convex lens has two centres of curvature (two centres, one in each of two spheres).

The two centres of curvature of a convex lens

The two centres of curvature of a convex lens

Centres of lens curvatures are usually denoted with a C.

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