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The focal length of a thin lens made from a material of refractive index 1.5 is 15 cm. When it is placed in a liquid of refractive index 4/3, its focal length will be ________ cm.

Asked in GUJCET 2019 · Lens maker's formula and power

Answer: (4) 60

Step-by-step solution

Given: n_g=1.5, f=15 cm in air, liquid of nₗ=4/3.

Idea: the same piece of glass keeps its shape factor (1/(R₁)-1/(R₂)); only the bracket ((n_g)/(n_medium)-1) changes.

In air: 1/(15)=(1.5-1)(1/(R₁)-1/(R₂)), so the shape factor is 2/(15) cm⁻¹.

In the liquid: (n_g)/(nₗ)=(1.5)/(4/3)=1.125, so the bracket is 0.125.

1/(f')=0.125×2/(15)=1/(60)

f'=60 cm — four times weaker, because the liquid is nearly as dense as the glass.

Why the other options are wrong

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