One dioptre is the unit of measurement for the optical power of a lens, defined as the power of a lens with a focal length of one meter. In other words, if a lens has a focal length of one meter, its optical power is said to be 1 dioptre. This unit is used to quantify the convergence or divergence of light caused by a lens, with positive dioptres indicating converging lenses and negative dioptres indicating diverging lenses.


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Introduction to Lens Power

Understanding Optical Power: The power of a lens is a measure of its ability to converge or diverge light rays. It is a key parameter in optics, determining how much the lens can bend light rays and thus affect the image formation.

Definition of Dioptre

Unit of Lens Power: One dioptre (D) is the unit of measurement for the optical power of a lens. It is defined as the power of a lens that has a focal length of one meter.

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Focal Length and Lens Power

Inverse Relationship: The power of a lens is inversely proportional to its focal length. This means that a lens with a shorter focal length has a higher power and vice versa. A lens with a focal length of one meter, therefore, has a power of 1 dioptre.

Positive and Negative Dioptres

Converging and Diverging Lenses: Positive dioptres indicate converging lenses, like those used in reading glasses, which bring light rays together. Negative dioptres, on the other hand, are associated with diverging lenses, like those used in myopia correction, which spread light rays apart.

Practical Implications

Importance in Optics and Vision Correction: The concept of dioptres is crucial in optics and vision correction. It helps in quantifying the degree of correction needed in eyeglasses and contact lenses, allowing for precise adjustments to achieve the desired focus and clarity in vision.

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Questions of 10th Science Chapter 9 in Detail

Define the principal focus of a concave mirror.
The radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is 20 cm. What is its focal length?
Name a mirror that can give an erect and enlarged image of an object.
Why do we prefer a convex mirror as a rear-view mirror in vehicles?
Find the focal length of a convex mirror whose radius of curvature is 32 cm.
A concave mirror produces three times magnified (enlarged) real image of an object placed at 10 cm in front of it. Where is the image located?
A ray of light travelling in air enters obliquely into water. Does the light ray bend towards the normal or away from the normal? Why?
Light enters from air to glass having refractive index 1.50. What is the speed of light in the glass?
Find out, from Table, the medium having highest optical density. Also find the medium with lowest optical density.
You are given kerosene, turpentine and water. In which of these does the light travel fastest?
The refractive index of diamond is 2.42. What is the meaning of this statement?
Define 1 dioptre of power of a lens.
A convex lens forms a real and inverted image of a needle at a distance of 50 cm from it. Where is the needle placed in front of the convex lens if the image is equal to the size of the object?
Find the power of a concave lens of focal length 2 m.
We wish to obtain an erect image of an object, using a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. What should be the range of distance of the object from the mirror?
Name the type of mirror used in the following situations. (a) Headlights of a car. (b) Side/rear-view mirror of a vehicle. (c) Solar furnace.
One-half of a convex lens is covered with a black paper. Will this lens produce a complete image of the object?
An object 5 cm in length is held 25 cm away from a converging lens of focal length 10 cm. What is the position, size and the nature of the image formed.
A concave lens of focal length 15 cm forms an image 10 cm from the lens. How far is the object placed from the lens?
An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Find the position and nature of the image.
The magnification produced by a plane mirror is +1. What does this mean?
An object 5.0 cm in length is placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of a convex mirror of radius of curvature 30 cm. Find the position of the image, its nature and size.
An object of size 7.0 cm is placed at 27 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 18 cm. At what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed, so that a sharp focussed image can be obtained?
Find the focal length of a lens of power – 2.0 D. What type of lens is this?
A doctor has prescribed a corrective lens of power +1.5 D. Find the focal length of the lens. Is the prescribed lens diverging or converging?