12 Top-Rated Difference between Concave and Convex Lens with Pictures

What is the difference between concave and convex lens?

Lens has the capability of focusing and refracting light rays in a certain manner. These lenses can either be the concave and convex lens.

The main difference between concave and convex lenses is that the former slender at the center when compared to the borders and the latter is is a lens that is thick at the center and thin at the edges.

The lesson provides a detailed insight into the difference between the concave lens and a convex lens in tabular form for easier understanding.

What Is a Concave Lens?

A concave lens is a lens that is slender at the centre when compared to the borders. The lens is also known as divergence lens.

The lens tends to be round inwards so that it can bend beams of light outward. The process makes the image to appear smaller and farther away from the real object.

The image formed on divergence lens is diminished, virtual and upright. Examples of the concave lens are mirrors of cars and motorbikes.

What Is a Convex Lens?

The convex lens is a lens that is thick at the centre and thin at the edges. The lens is also known as the convergence lens.

The lens tends to a curved outward and it normally allows beams of light to pass through then get refracted by bringing them together.

The image formed on the convergence lens is virtual, real and inverted. Example of a convex lens is the one found on the camera.

Comparison Chart: Concave Vs Convex

Here are some of the difference between convex and concave mirror in a tabular form.

Basic Terms	Concave Lens	Convex Lens
Meaning	It is a lens that disperses beams of light after hitting the mirror.	It is a lens that merges beams of light at a specific point
Curved	Inward	Outward
Effect on light rays	Diverges	Converges
Centre and edges	Centre thinner than the edges	Centre thicker than the edges
Focal length	Negative	Positive
Image	Diminished, virtual and upright	Real and inverted
Objects	Appear smaller and farther	Appear closer and larger
Application	Correct myopia.	Correct hyperopia.
Examples	Security cameras, side mirrors of vehicles, sunglasses	Binoculars and telescopes Cameras Eyeglasses Flashlights Lasers ( CD, DVD players)
Position of Image	The object on one side and image on the other side	Both image and object appear on one side
Image formation	virtual	Real
Other names	Divergence Lens	Convergence Lens

Core Differences between Concave and Convex Lens

A concave lens is also known as divergence lens while convex lens as a convergence lens.
The image formed by a concave lens is virtual while the convex lens is real
Both the image and object appear on the same side of the convex lens while on different sides on the concave lens.
A concave lens has the thinner centre and thicker edges while the convex lens has the thicker centre and thinner edges.
The focal length of concave is negative while that of a convex lens is positive
Concave lens diverges light away from towards the principal axis while convex lens converges incident rays towards the principal axis.
A concave lens is used to correct myopia or shortsightedness while convex is used to correct hyperopia or farsightedness.

Comparison Video

Here is convex and concave lenses video for further explanation.

Conclusion

The above difference between the concave and convex lens in tabular form is quite clear for easier understanding. Use the comment section to share your views and other suggestions.