Rules for drawing ray diagram in concave lens:
 
Rule No. Incident ray Refracted ray Ray diagram
1. A ray parallel to the principal axis Appears to diverge from the principal focus on the same side of the lens concaveparallel36w1000.png
2. A ray directed towards the principal focus Emerge parallel to the principal axis concavefocus37w1000.png
3. A ray passing through the optical centre Emerges without any deviation (continues in the same straight line) concaveooo38w1200.png
 
Image formation by concave lens:
 
Object position Image position Nature and size Ray diagram
At infinity At \(F_1\) Virtual, erect, highly diminished and point-sized 35w800.png
Between infinity and \(O\) Between \(F_1\) and \(O\) Virtual, erect and diminished 34w800.png
 
Sign convention for concave lens:
 
Quantity Symbol Sign convention
Object distance \(u\) Always negative
Image distance \(v\)
Always negative 
Focal length \(f\) Always negative
Object height \(h_o\) Always positive
Image height \(h_i\)
Always positive 
 
Lens formula:
 
\(\frac{1}{f}\ =\ \frac{1}{v}\ -\ \frac{1}{u}\)
 
Magnification:
 
\(m\ =\ \frac{v}{u}\ =\ \frac{h_i}{h_o}\)
 
Magnification value Nature of image
\(m\ >\ 1\) Enlarged 
\(m\ =\ 1\) Same size
\(m\ <\ 1\) Diminished 
\(m\) is positive Virtual, erect
\(m\) is negative Real, inverted
 
Power of lens:
 
\(P\ =\ \frac{1}{f}\) 
 
Unit of power is dioptre (\(D\))
 
For concave lens: \(P\) is negative.