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Sign Convention

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Topics

  • General Rules of Cartesian Sign Convention
  • Sign Convention for Mirrors
  • Sign Convention for Lenses

General Rules of Cartesian Sign Convention

The Cartesian sign convention is a standardised system used in optics to assign positive and negative values to distances and heights in relation to mirrors and lenses. It simplifies mathematical calculations for image formation and ensures consistency in mirror and lens formulas.

  • The pole (P) of the mirror or optical centre (O) of the lens is considered the origin.
  • The principal axis is treated as the X-axis.
  • Distances measured to the right of the origin → Positive.
  • Distances measured to the left of the origin → Negative.
  • Distances above the principal axis (positive Y-axis) → Positive.
  • Distances below the principal axis (negative Y-axis) → Negative.

Cartesian sign conventions

Sign Convention for Mirrors

Rules for Mirrors:

  1. Distances in the direction of the incident ray → Positive.
  2. Distances opposite to the incident ray → Negative.
  3. Above the principal axis → Positive.
  4. Below the principal axis → Negative.

Sign Convention for Mirrors

Parameter Concave Mirror Convex Mirror Explanation
Focal Length (f) Negative Positive Concave mirror: Focus is in front (left side). Convex mirror: Focus is behind (right side).
Object Distance (u) Negative Negative The object is always placed on the left side of the mirror.
Real Image Distance (v) Negative - Real images form in front of the mirror (left side).
Virtual Image Distance (v) Positive Positive Virtual images form behind the mirror (right side).
Object Height (h) Always Positive Always Positive The object is always placed above the principal axis.
Image Height (h') Erect: Positive
Inverted: Negative
Erect: Positive Erect images form above the principal axis, and inverted images form below it.

 

Sign Convention for Lenses

Rules for Lenses:

  • Right side of the lens → Positive.
  • Left side of the lens → Negative.
  • Above the principal axis → Positive.
  • Below the principal axis → Negative.

Sign Convention for Lenses

Parameter Convex Lens Concave Lens Explanation
Focal Length (f) Positive Negative Convex lens: Focus is on the right. Concave lens: Focus is on the left.
Object Distance (u) Negative Negative The object is always placed on the left side of the lens.
Real Image Distance (v) Positive - Real images form on the right side of the lens.
Virtual Image Distance (v) Negative Negative Virtual images form on the same side as the object.
Real Image Height (h') Negative - Real images are inverted and appear below the principal axis.
Virtual Image Height (h') Positive Positive Virtual images are erect and appear above the principal axis.

 

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Shaalaa.com | Light Reflection and Refraction part 17 (Sing conventions & lens formula)

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Light Reflection and Refraction part 17 (Sing conventions & lens formula) [00:02:06]
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