A focal ray from an object, after passing through a diverging lens, proceeds away from the principal axis and appears to originate from the focal point on the same side of the lens as the object.

Here's a breakdown:

* Focal Ray: A focal ray is a ray of light that travels parallel to the principal axis of the lens.

* Diverging Lens: A diverging lens is a lens that spreads out light rays. It is thinner at the center and thicker at the edges.

* Principal Axis: The principal axis is an imaginary line that passes through the center of the lens and is perpendicular to its surface.

* Focal Point: The focal point is a point on the principal axis where light rays that are parallel to the principal axis converge or appear to diverge from after passing through the lens.

Here's how it works:

1. Incident Ray: A focal ray from the object is parallel to the principal axis and enters the diverging lens.

2. Refraction: The diverging lens refracts (bends) the ray away from the principal axis.

3. Apparent Origin: The refracted ray appears to originate from the focal point on the same side of the lens as the object. This is because the human eye, or any other optical instrument, would perceive the refracted ray as if it had originated from the focal point.

Important Note: The focal point for a diverging lens is always a *virtual* focal point. This means that the light rays do not actually converge at that point, but rather appear to diverge from it.

Let me know if you'd like a diagram to illustrate this!