How binoculars work?

Today we will learn an interesting topic during your physics tuition. Have you ever seen binoculars or monocular? Ever wondered how objects come closer when seen through a pair of binoculars? You may want to ask this question in your physics tuition. Today in physics tuition we will see how these binoculars or monocular work. Binoculars may be considered as being a pair of small telescopes mounted on a specific frame. It provides a magnified view of distant objects. In binocular there are two structurally exactly similar telescopes are present for each eye. Usually, each of these telescopes is fitted into a funnel-shaped cylinder or tube and is made of two lenses, one known as objective lens and the other one is called eyepiece. The objective lens is kept towards the object and eyepiece near the eye. The lenses are coated to prevent reflection. In between these two lenses set there are two prisms mounted that helps in making the objects erect (they are inverted without them).

At first light coming from the objects falls directly on the objective lens, thereby creating an inverted and magnified image of the object. After passing through the prisms this inverted image gets erect. Further magnification of the image is done by the eyepiece. The light finally falls on our eyes and we are able to see the magnified image of the object.

Usually, normal binoculars have single adjustable wheels or thumb screw for controlling the focus of both telescopes simultaneously. Some binoculars have separate focus wheels for each telescope for varying characteristics of the two eyes.

Two numbers are typically engraved or printed on the binocular at some place on the external cover. The first of the number represents the magnification power of the binocular whereas the second number illustrates the objective lens diameter in millimetres. If the binoculars are marked 6×35, then it will magnify an object six times through an objective lens that is 35 mm in diameter.

Binoculars provide stereoscopic vision, i.e. depth perception at greater distances as here both the eyes can be used simultaneously. People often use them to see matches in the playgrounds. Binoculars are even used in some of the sophisticated modern microscopes for clearer and three-dimensional image of the object.

We hope you enjoyed this lesson from physics tuition. We will be back with more such interesting findings in our next physics tuition.

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