What is a lens and how does it work?

A lens is a curved piece of glass or other transparent material that refracts light rays. This refraction causes the light rays to converge or diverge, allowing the lens to focus light. There are two main types of lenses: convex and concave.

Convex lenses are thicker in the middle and cause light rays to converge, forming real or virtual images. On the other hand, concave lenses are thinner in the middle and cause light rays to diverge. Lenses are used in various optical instruments, such as cameras, microscopes, and eyeglasses, to manipulate and focus light for specific purposes.