Sign Convention

SIGN CONVENTION

Cartesian sign conventions are used for measuring the various distances in the ray diagrams of spherical lenses. According to cartesian sign convention,

1.              The object is always placed on the left side of the lens.

2.              All the distances are measured from the optical centre of the lens.

3.              The distances measured in the same direction as that of incident light are taken as positive.

4.              The distances measured against the direction of incident light are taken as negative.

5.              The distances measured upward and perpendicular to the principal axis is taken as positive.

6.              The distances measured downward and perpendicular to the principal axis is taken as negative.