Thin lens approximation

The thin lens approximation simplifies the behavior of light as it passes through a lens. It assumes the lens is thin compared to its focal length, allowing us to treat it as a flat surface at the center. This approach helps us focus on how light converges or diverges through the lens to form images. Using this approximation, we can apply straightforward mathematical formulas to predict where images will appear and their sizes, making it easier to analyze lenses in glasses, cameras, and telescopes without complicated calculations.