Forstørrelsen

Forstørrelsen, in Danish and Norwegian, refers to the magnification or enlargement of an image relative to the object. The term is used in optics, photography, microscopy, astronomy and cartography to describe how much larger an image appears.

Definition: Magnification is a dimensionless ratio M = image size / object size. In practice, magnifications are often expressed as a factor with an "x" (for example 40x) or as a print enlargement factor. In optical instruments, the total magnification is usually the product of the magnifications of the individual components. For a compound microscope or telescope, the objective provides one factor and the eyepiece another. Depending on the arrangement, the image may be inverted.

Types: Linear magnification refers to the size of the image relative to the object, while angular magnification refers to how large an object appears in the viewer’s visual field. Angular magnification is particularly relevant for telescopes and binoculars; linear magnification is common in printing and microscopy.

Applications: In microscopy, the objective lens has a labeled magnification (e.g., 10x, 40x), and the eyepiece adds its magnification (e.g., 10x) to yield a total magnification (e.g., 400x). In photography, forstørrelsen describes enlarging a negative or digital image to a larger print or display, such as 8x10 inches.

Limitations: Magnification does not by itself increase resolution. A high magnification of a blurred or low-resolution image yields little detail; effective magnification depends on the instrument’s resolving power and viewing conditions.

See also: Magnification; Optics; Microscopy; Photography.