Which statement about minus lenses on perceived size is correct?

Which statement about minus lenses on perceived size is correct?

• A. Minus lenses make objects look bigger and closer
• B. Minus lenses have no effect on size
• C. Minus lenses make objects look smaller and farther
• D. Minus lenses invert colors

Answer: (C)

Minus lenses diverge light, so with them the eye ends up viewing a virtual image that sits farther away than it would without the lens. Because perceived size depends on how far away an object is (size-distance invariance) and on the angular size it subtends on the retina, seeing something as farther away tends to make it look smaller. So objects look smaller and farther through minus lenses. They don’t invert colors, and they do affect size perception—contrary to the idea that there’s no effect or that they make things bigger and closer.

Minus lenses diverge light, so with them the eye ends up viewing a virtual image that sits farther away than it would without the lens. Because perceived size depends on how far away an object is (size-distance invariance) and on the angular size it subtends on the retina, seeing something as farther away tends to make it look smaller. So objects look smaller and farther through minus lenses. They don’t invert colors, and they do affect size perception—contrary to the idea that there’s no effect or that they make things bigger and closer.