KWH Blog

Lenses allow humans to share our experiences through photography, explore the building blocks of life with microscopes, probe the depths of our universe with telescopes, and, most importantly, to see the world clearly.


TOPIC
The physics/concepts behind lenses such as eye lenses, camera lenses, microscope/telescope lenses, soft contact lenses, hard contact lenses, and eyeglasses.

KIND OF KNOW
My understanding is that lenses work by refracting light in a way that allows light to be focused to a certain point. For example, the lenses on cameras bend light to make it hit the sensor within the body of the camera.

WANT TO KNOW
How is light "bent?"

How do the lenses in our eyes change shape to maintain focus?
What do the numbers in eye prescriptions mean?

What do the different focal lengths of camera lenses mean?
Why are multiple elements needed within a camera lens?

Why is glass used for lenses?
What is an "index of refraction?"

HOW TO FIND ANSWERS
I will find some books/online sources about optics in physics. For subjects relating to eyes, contact lenses, or glasses, I can probably look for sources for optometry. For camera lenses and microscope lenses, I can look for information from photography-based sources.