Enter the focal length of the objective and the focal length of the eyepiece into the calculator to determine the magnification factor of an optical system such as a microscope or telescope.
Magnification Factor Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the magnification factor:
M = F<sub>obj</sub> / F<sub>ep</sub>
Variables:
- M is the magnification factor
- Fobj is the focal length of the objective lens (mm)
- Fep is the focal length of the eyepiece lens (mm)
To calculate the magnification factor, divide the focal length of the objective lens by the focal length of the eyepiece lens.
What is a Magnification Factor?
The magnification factor is a measure of how much larger an optical system can make an object appear. It is a crucial aspect of microscopes, telescopes, and other optical instruments. The magnification factor is determined by the ratio of the focal lengths of the objective lens to the eyepiece lens. A higher magnification factor means that the object will appear larger and more details can be observed.
How to Calculate Magnification Factor?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Magnification Factor.
- First, determine the focal length of the objective lens (Fobj) in millimeters.
- Next, determine the focal length of the eyepiece lens (Fep) in millimeters.
- Next, gather the formula from above = M = Fobj / Fep.
- Finally, calculate the Magnification Factor (M).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
focal length of the objective lens (Fobj) = 40 mm
focal length of the eyepiece lens (Fep) = 10 mm
