What is a characteristic of a thicker lens compared to a thinner lens?

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A thicker lens has a shorter focal length compared to a thinner lens due to its ability to bend light rays more sharply. When light passes through a lens, the curvature and thickness influence the degree to which the light is refracted. A thicker lens typically has a greater curvature, which allows it to converge or diverge light rays more effectively, resulting in a focal point that is closer to the lens. This property is crucial in applications such as eyeglasses and camera lenses, where the focal length affects the image projection.

In contrast, options suggesting that a thicker lens has a longer focal length, bends light less, or produces a higher frequency of light do not accurately reflect the behavior of lenses in optics. The focal length is fundamentally related to the shape and thickness of the lens, leading to the conclusion that thicker lenses yield shorter focal lengths.

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