Converging lensA converging lens is thicker in the middle. It bends rays that are parallel to the axis toward one point.
ObjectThe arrow the light comes from. Here it stands beyond the 2F point.
Real imageThis image is real, inverted and smaller. The three rays cross at its tip, between the focal point and 2F.
Focal pointRays parallel to the axis meet at the focal point. A lens has one on each side.
Principal axisThe straight line through the middle of the lens. It is also called the optical axis.
Optical centerThe middle of the lens, on the axis. A ray through it goes straight on.
2F pointTwice as far from the lens as the focal point. There is one on each side.
Focal lengthHow far a focal point is from the lens.
Ray parallel to the axisIt runs level to the lens, then through the far focal point.
Ray through the optical centerIt goes straight through the middle of the lens.
Ray through the focal pointIt passes the near focal point, then leaves the lens level.
Diverging lens 7
Diverging lensA diverging lens is thinner in the middle. It spreads rays that are parallel to the axis apart.
ObjectThe arrow the light comes from.
Virtual imageThis image is virtual, upright and smaller. A diverging lens forms such an image wherever the object stands.
Focal pointThe focal point on the side of the object. The bent ray seems to come from it.
Ray parallel to the axisIt runs level to the lens, then bends away from the axis.
Backward extensionA dashed line that traces the bent ray backward. It ends at the focal point on the side of the object.
Ray through the optical centerIt goes straight through the middle of the lens.
Magnifier 3
ObjectHere the object stands inside the focal point.
Backward extensionDashed lines that trace the two rays backward. Beyond the lens the rays spread apart and never meet.
Virtual imageThis image is virtual, upright and larger. It is what a magnifying glass shows.
How this list was compiled: Every name and every image checked on 2026-10-03 against Wikipedia, text only: Lens (converging and diverging lenses, the optical axis, the focal point and focal length, the three rays that find an image: one parallel to the axis and refracted toward the second focal point, one through the optical center, one toward the first focal point and refracted parallel to the axis; the table of images formed by thin lenses) and Virtual image (dashed lines as the backward extension of real rays); Georgia State University, HyperPhysics: Ray Diagrams for Lenses, Focal Length of a Lens and Thin Lens Equation (the three principal rays; for a negative lens the parallel ray leaves as if it came from the near-side focal point; an object outside the focal point of a convex lens gives a real inverted image, inside it a virtual erect image; the optic axis); a physics tutorial on the anatomy of a lens and on ray diagrams for converging and diverging lenses (principal axis, focal point, 2F point, focal length; an object beyond the 2F point gives an image between the focal point and 2F; refracted rays extended backward with dashed lines); the national science textbook of India for class X, chapter 10 (the principal axis of a lens; its central point, the optical center; focal length; F and 2F marked on either side of the lens; an object beyond 2F gives a diminished, real and inverted image between F and 2F); and Heath Physics, 1992, chapter 16 (principal axis; the optical center, O), the last two read through full-text search. The axis is labeled Principal axis, the name the tutorial and both textbooks use for a lens; Wikipedia says optical axis and the university page optic axis, and both are accepted. The drawing script also works each image out from the thin lens equation and stops if its words differ from this table. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site on 2026-10-03 by script; every image is placed by the thin lens equation. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
This lens ray diagram worksheet shows three finished diagrams: a converging lens with the object beyond 2F, a diverging lens, and a converging lens used as a magnifier. Name each numbered point, ray and image on paper or on screen.
Read the full guide
The three rays of a converging lens
From the tip of the object, one ray runs parallel to the axis and bends through the far focal point. One goes straight through the optical center. One passes the near focal point and leaves the lens level. Where they cross is the tip of the image.
When the rays spread apart
Beyond a diverging lens, and beyond a magnifier, the rays never cross. Dashed lines trace them backward. Where those backward extensions meet, on the side of the object, stands a virtual image.
On a converging lens ray diagram worksheet any two of the three rays are enough to find the image; the first diagram draws all three.
Used as a lenses ray diagram practice worksheet in physics, the numbered sheet is the one to hand out; Blank leaves the numbers off.
Questions and answers
What are the three rays in a lens ray diagram?
A ray parallel to the axis, which leaves through the far focal point; a ray through the optical center, which goes straight on; and a ray through the near focal point, which leaves parallel to the axis.
What is the difference between converging and diverging lenses?
A converging lens is thicker in the middle and brings parallel rays together at a focal point. A diverging lens is thinner in the middle and spreads them apart. This converging and diverging lenses ray diagrams worksheet draws both.
What image does a diverging lens form?
Always a virtual image: upright, smaller than the object, and on the object's side of the lens.
Is this a ray tracing lens diagram worksheet?
Yes. Ray tracing means following rays from the object through the lens to find the image. Here the tracing is finished, and the worksheet asks for the name of each point, ray and image.
Does the lens ray diagrams worksheet have an answer key?
Yes. Print the answer key prints the numbered sheet again with the name of each part written on its numbered line.