What type of lens power does a 2X hand magnifier have?

To determine the lens power of a 2X hand magnifier, we can use the formula related to magnification (M) and lens power (P). The magnification is given by the equation M = 1 + (D/f), where D is the distance from the lens to the object and f is the focal length of the lens in meters.

For a magnifier that provides a 2X magnification, we know that M = 2. This means that the formula simplifies to 2 = 1 + (D/f), which indicates that (D/f) = 1. Consequently, D must equal the focal length, which helps us see that for a standard magnifier, the relationship between magnification and lens power can further complicate the calculations, but it is commonly understood within the optical community.

The lens power in diopters (P) can be calculated using the formula P = 1/f, where f is the focal length in meters. If we assume that a typical 2X magnifier has a focal length of 0.5 meters (which is an approximation commonly accepted for such devices), the calculation would yield:

P = 1/f = 1/0.5 = +2