What is the main function of diverging lenses?

Diverging lenses, also known as concave lenses, are designed to cause incoming parallel light rays to spread apart, or diverge, as they pass through the lens. This occurs due to the curvature of the lens, which is thinner in the center than at the edges. When parallel rays of light enter a diverging lens, they emerge outwards as if they were coming from a point behind the lens, known as the focal point.

The primary purpose of a diverging lens is to create virtual images that appear to be located on the same side of the lens as the object. This is particularly useful in applications such as eyeglasses for nearsightedness, where the lens helps to project the light rays into the eyes correctly, allowing for clear vision.

The option that states diverging lenses make light rays converge is incorrect, as that describes the function of converging lenses, or convex lenses, which focus rays to a single point. Similarly, the choice about focusing light onto a single point also refers to converging lenses. Lastly, the mention of reflecting light into a prism pertains to a different optical principle involving reflections and total internal reflection rather than the direct function of diverging lenses.