In what way does a concave lens affect light waves?

A concave lens affects light waves by causing them to diverge, which means that it spreads the light out rather than focusing it to a point. When parallel light waves enter a concave lens, they are refracted outward, creating the effect of the light coming from a point behind the lens. This property is what allows concave lenses to produce virtual images that appear to be located on the same side of the lens as the object itself.

The primary function of a concave lens is to diverge light, which is essential in various applications such as eyeglasses for nearsighted individuals or certain types of optical devices. While the other options discuss phenomena related to lenses and images, none accurately describe the behavior of a concave lens. For example, magnifying images typically requires a convex lens, while focusing light to a point is characteristic of convex lenses as well. Therefore, the nature of how concave lenses manipulate light waves through refraction explains why they result in certain visual effects distinct from the options provided.