A diverging lens produces what type of image?

• A. Real
• B. Virtual
• C. Inverted
• D. Enlarged

Answer: (B)

A diverging lens always produces a virtual image. This occurs because when parallel rays of light pass through a diverging lens, they spread out and appear to emanate from a point behind the lens. This point is the location of the virtual image. Since virtual images cannot be projected onto a screen — as they do not actually converge at a physical location — they are typically upright and located on the same side of the lens as the object.

In the case of diverging lenses, the characteristics of the image include being virtual and upright, rather than real and inverted as with converging lenses. It's also important to note that the size of the image produced can vary depending on the object's distance from the lens, but diverging lenses typically produce images that are smaller than the object, not enlarged.