What are the different steps in a ray diagram?

Answer 1

Given the position of the lense:

1. Draw a base line (a straight line) with the size of object (shown by an upright arrow) and any other information given (focal length, postion of lense etc.). If given, skip to next step
2. Extend the lense (can be omitted, skip if given)
3. Draw the first ray through the middle the lense
4. Draw a second ray to the lense parallel to the base line, then draw a line, cutting the focal length of lense (at the opposite side of object)
5. Draw a third ray down the focal length before the lense, then a parallel line after the lense
6. The image would be at the intersection point of 3 lines (2 lines would also mean the formation of an image)
7. If they seem to spread further out, the image would be formed at the same side of object.

Answer 2

In a ray diagram, you typically start by drawing a parallel ray from the object through the focal point (or vice versa), then draw a ray from the object through the center of curvature (or vice versa), and finally draw a ray through the focal point reflecting off the mirror (if dealing with mirrors) or refracting through the lens (if dealing with lenses). The intersection of these rays will give you the location of the image.