A collimating magnifier is designed to produce light rays that are parallel when leaving the lens. Which type of magnifier is described as collimating?

A collimating magnifier is designed to produce light rays that are parallel when leaving the lens. Which type of magnifier is described as collimating?

• A. Handheld magnifier
• B. Stand magnifier
• C. Collimating magnifier
• D. Telescopic magnifier

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is that parallel light leaving the lens means the device is set to produce a collimated beam. In a convex lens, this happens when the object is placed at the lens’s focal point, so the emerging rays are parallel and the eye sees a virtual image at infinity. A magnifier designed to do this is intentionally arranged so the object sits at the focal distance, giving a magnified view with relaxed accommodation because the image appears at infinity. Other types of magnifiers change the apparent size or image distance for near viewing, but they do not consistently produce parallel exiting rays. So, the one described as producing parallel rays is the collimating magnifier.

The idea being tested is that parallel light leaving the lens means the device is set to produce a collimated beam. In a convex lens, this happens when the object is placed at the lens’s focal point, so the emerging rays are parallel and the eye sees a virtual image at infinity. A magnifier designed to do this is intentionally arranged so the object sits at the focal distance, giving a magnified view with relaxed accommodation because the image appears at infinity. Other types of magnifiers change the apparent size or image distance for near viewing, but they do not consistently produce parallel exiting rays. So, the one described as producing parallel rays is the collimating magnifier.