Lens (geometry)


In 2-dimensional geometry, a lens is a convex region bounded by two circular arcs joined to each other at their endpoints. In order for this shape to be convex, both arcs must bow outwards. This shape can be formed as the intersection of two circular disks. It can also be formed as the union of two circular segments, joined along a common chord.

Types

If the two arcs of a lens have equal radius, it is called a symmetric lens, otherwise is an asymmetric lens.
The vesica piscis is one form of a symmetrical lens, formed by arcs of two circles whose centers each lie on the opposite arc. The arcs meet at angles of 120° at their endpoints.

Area

;Symmetric
The area of a symmetric lens can be expressed in terms of the radius R and arc lengths θ in radians:
;Asymmetric
The area of an asymetric lens formed from circles of radii R and r with distance d between their centers is
where
is the area of a triangle with sides d, r, and R.

Applications

A lens with a different shape forms part of the answer to Mrs. Miniver's problem, which asks how to bisect the area of a disk by an arc of another circle with given radius. One of the two areas into which the disk is bisected is a lens.
Lenses are used to define beta skeletons, geometric graphs defined on a set of points by connecting pairs of points by an edge whenever a lens determined by the two points is empty.