Question about variable zoom lenses and aperture

[stevet1]

As I understand it, with a variable zoom lens, as you zoom in, your available aperture gets smaller..

As you zoom in, the amount of light hitting your sensor is reduced. If your aperture gets smaller, that reduces the amount of light hitting your sensor gets reduced even more.

That seems to be counter intuitive to me.

What am I missing, or don't know?

Steve Thomas

[ebiggs1]

"... a number which increases and represents a logarithmic scale of a decreasing ..."

Another example is fractions as the denominator number increases, I.E. becomes larger, the portion decreases becoming smaller. You need to think of it in terms of a ratio. When you grasp that concept I am sure it will click for you. As a tool and die instructio and music teacher, I am well aware that everyone learns at different levels.