What is the front surface power of a lens in air with a refractive index of 1.50 and radius of curvature of 50 cm?

To determine the front surface power of a lens in air, you can use the lensmaker's equation specifically for a single surface, which is represented by the formula:

[ P = (n - 1) \times \frac{1}{R} ]

Here, ( P ) is the power of the lens in diopters (D), ( n ) is the refractive index of the lens material, and ( R ) is the radius of curvature of the lens surface, measured in meters.

In this case, the refractive index ( n ) is 1.50, and the radius of curvature ( R ) is 50 cm, which needs to be converted to meters for consistency with standard units. Thus, ( R = 50 , \text{cm} = 0.50 , \text{m} ).

Now, substituting these values into the formula:

1. Calculate ( n - 1 ):

[ n - 1 = 1.50 - 1 = 0.50 ]

2. Calculate the power:

[ P = 0.50 \times \frac{1}{0.50} ]

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