A lens is a transparent optical device that bends light rays by refraction, allowing them to focus or spread out.

Unlike prisms, lenses can form clear images by converging or diverging light beams.

They are used in physics labs to study:

Image formation using convex and concave lenses
Focal length determination
Concepts like real and virtual images, magnification, and lens formula
Lenses are classified by their shape:

Convex (biconvex or plano-convex) lenses converge light and can form real images

Concave (biconcave or plano-concave) lenses diverge light and usually form virtual images

Meniscus lenses have one convex and one concave surface and are used in eyeglasses
meniscus lenses
Meniscus lenses
Lenses are essential in optics experiments, helping students understand light behavior, refraction, and image formation.