Magnification is the ratio of length of image to length of object. It equals the distance of the image divided by the distance of the object from the lens. Hence, an image will be larger than the object only if it is farther from the lens. The shorter the focal length of a lens, or the greater its convex curvature, the greater its magnifying power. This power, expressed in diopters, is the focal length of a lens in meters divided into 1. A lens with a focal length of 25 cm. (1/4 m.) has a magnifying power of 4 diopters. [pg. 65] [Light and Color, by Clarence Rainwater, Prof. of Physics, San Francisco State College, Original Project Editor Herbert S. Zim, Golden Press, NY, Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1971.]
R E F E R E N C E S
Mgnification n [15c] 1: the act of magnifying 2a: the state of being magnified b: the apparent enlargement of an object by an optical instrument -called also power
Magnify vb [ME magnifien, fr. MF magniffier, fr. L magnificare, fr. magnificus] vt [14c] 1a: Extol, Laud b: to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect 2a: to increase in significance: Intensify b: exaggerate 3: to enlarge in fact or in appearance -vi: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
[Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition. Springfield, MA, USA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. 1995.]
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