physics girl phd said:Magnification and focal length can both have signs (+ or -). The fact that these are + should tell you things about where the object/image are located (on the same or different sides of the optic) and what type of optic is used (converging or diverging). There's also information available just by being able to say there's an image on film... is such an image real or imaginary? Image orientation (upright or inverted) relates to this.
An inverted image is an image that appears upside down compared to the original object. This can happen when light rays passing through a lens or mirror are refracted or reflected in a way that results in the image being flipped.
The M ratio, also known as the magnification ratio, is calculated by dividing the size of the image by the size of the object. This can be done by measuring the height, width, or diameter of both the object and the image and then dividing the image size by the object size.
The M ratio is important because it tells us how much larger or smaller the image is compared to the object. It can also help us determine the type of lens or mirror being used, as different types have different magnification capabilities.
The f ratio, also known as the focal ratio or f-number, is calculated by dividing the focal length of the lens or mirror by its diameter. This ratio is important because it determines the amount of light that is able to pass through the lens or mirror, and thus affects the brightness and clarity of the resulting image.
The M and f ratios are closely related, as they both involve the focal length and diameter of a lens or mirror. Generally, a larger f ratio will result in a smaller M ratio, meaning the image will be smaller compared to the object. Conversely, a smaller f ratio will result in a larger M ratio and a larger image.