need mcat advice for lens and mirrors

[shaq786]

I need some advice, I am now learning about lenses and mirrors. The book shows how to draw diagrams and figure out generally if the image is inverted or upright, and other stuff. But will I need to keep in mind how to make mirror and lens diagrams on the mcat? I think drawing diagrams sucks and is unreliable unless your pretty good at it.

Cant you just wing it through by the equations only? Becuase the equations tell you where everything is, as well as magnification, upright, inverted, etc.

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[VPDcurt]

I need some advice, I am now learning about lenses and mirrors. The book shows how to draw diagrams and figure out generally if the image is inverted or upright, and other stuff. But will I need to keep in mind how to make mirror and lens diagrams on the mcat? I think drawing diagrams sucks and is unreliable unless your pretty good at it.

Cant you just wing it through by the equations only? Becuase the equations tell you where everything is, as well as magnification, upright, inverted, etc.

Don't worry about drawing the diagrams at all. It is a total waste of time as long as you are good with the equations and the simple facts (real images are inverted, virtual images are upright, etc).

 

[MoosePilot]

The equations are plenty as long as you have them solid.

 

[tank you]

lens and mirrors really aren't that bad as long as u keep track of what's negative and what's positive, along with the simple concepts like:

1. concave forms real inverted no matter what UNLESS
2. within focal point, then its like convex, virtual upright

also know the magnification eqn, like how to calculate mag of 2 lenses (multiply)

 

[ExplodingBoy]

http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/viewtopic.php?t=65


go there and play around with the java applet for a while. After a good 15 minutes or so just moving the arrow around and seeing what happens, you can pretty much visualize it all in your head and dont have to memorize rules and stuff.

 

[raom_dtpi]

Examkrackers has a good summation of the rules with clear diagrams. That helpedme a lot.