[Physics] Image formed via a converging lens when the object is placed at focal point

imaginglensesoptics

In the case where the object is placed at focal point F of a converging lens, the rays of light (the one passing through O and the one sent parallel to the principal axis never meet) so I am assuming that the image of that object at that specific position does not exist. However, in my class notes, the teacher has said that the image is formed at infinity. I searched and then I found three answers:

  1. The image indeed does not exist.
  2. The image is formed at infinity.
  3. In the third answer, they say that if the object is placed between the focal point and the lens but very close to the focal point, then the image is formed at infinity. They say this although they were discussing the case where the object is at F, not "very close to F from inside". However, they could not help but mention that in that case.

The weird thing about these answers is that they say that the image is a real image. How can image be real if it does not exist to start with?

I am confused. Does it exist or does it not? And what about the 3rd common answer I mentioned above? Why do some people say while explaining the case where object is on F, that "when the object is between F and lens but very close to F…'"? It is very confusing.

Best Answer

The image could be real or virtual. We'll start with a real image. Also, we'll consider a point object and an ideal lens.

For a real image of a point to be formed, the rays emitted by or reflected from that point have to converge at some other point in space.

If a point (blue dot on the diagrams below) is placed in a focal plane of a convex lens and its rays, collected by the lens, are coming out parallel to each other, they, obviously, are not going to to converge and, therefore, are not going to form an image.

enter image description here

If a point is placed in front of the focal plane, the rays are going to converge and form a real image.

If a point is placed behind the focal plane (i.e. between the focal plane and the lens), the rays are going to diverge and, therefore are not going to form a real image. If the diverging rays are extended backwards, they will meet at some point (of the apparent divergence) behind the lens, forming a virtual image.

Hopefully, this clarifies the picture.