AFOCAL Meaning and
Definition
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Afocal is an adjective used in optics to describe a lens or an optical system that lacks a focal point. Derived from the root word "a" meaning "without" or "lack of," and "focal" referring to the point of convergence or focus, afocal signifies the absence of a specific focal length.
When applied to a lens, an afocal lens has its primary focal point at infinity, meaning it is designed to transmit light in a manner that results in parallel light rays. Unlike other lenses that bring parallel rays to a point, an afocal lens neither converges nor diverges light, but essentially maintains the existing beam of light in parallel form. This peculiarity makes it distinctive and useful in various optical devices and systems.
Another context in which the term can be used is in reference to an afocal system. An afocal system, also known as a telescope, consists of two or more lenses or mirrors that work in tandem to enable viewing of distant objects. Due to the absence of a focal point, an afocal system allows for magnification and observation of far-off objects without requiring the user to alter their focus. Hence, it is commonly employed in astronomical instruments or camera attachments to capture images or gather information from celestial bodies.
In summary, "afocal" describes an optical lens or system that lacks a focal point, preventing the convergence or divergence of light rays and enabling the observation of distant objects without adjusting focus.
Common Misspellings for AFOCAL
- zfocal
- sfocal
- wfocal
- qfocal
- adocal
- avocal
- agocal
- atocal
- arocal
- afical
- afkcal
- aflcal
- afpcal
- af0cal
- af9cal
- afoxal
- afoval
- afoczl
- afocsl
- afocwl
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