Optics
"Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behaviour and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behaviour of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light. Because light is an electromagnetic wave, other forms of electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays, microwaves, and radio waves exhibit similar properties.
Most optical phenomena can be accounted for using the classical electromagnetic description of light. Complete electromagnetic descriptions of light are, however, often difficult to apply in practice. Practical optics is usually done using simplified models. The most common of these, geometric optics, treats light as a collection of rays that travel in straight lines and bend when they pass through or reflect from surfaces. Physical optics is a more comprehensive model of light, which includes wave effects such as diffraction and interference that cannot be accounted for in geometric optics. Historically, the ray-based model of light was developed first, followed by the wave model of light. Progress in electromagnetic theory in the 19th century led to the discovery that light waves were in fact electromagnetic radiation." ~Wikipedia
Most optical phenomena can be accounted for using the classical electromagnetic description of light. Complete electromagnetic descriptions of light are, however, often difficult to apply in practice. Practical optics is usually done using simplified models. The most common of these, geometric optics, treats light as a collection of rays that travel in straight lines and bend when they pass through or reflect from surfaces. Physical optics is a more comprehensive model of light, which includes wave effects such as diffraction and interference that cannot be accounted for in geometric optics. Historically, the ray-based model of light was developed first, followed by the wave model of light. Progress in electromagnetic theory in the 19th century led to the discovery that light waves were in fact electromagnetic radiation." ~Wikipedia
- Lab 4A: Wave Optics - Spectroscopy and Black Body Radiation
- Lab 4B: Diffraction and Geometric Optics
Physics Background
To review physics laws on mechanics, please check out OpenStax texbook.
Lab 4A: Wave Optics - Spectroscopy and Black-Radiation
Pre-Lab 4A
Using your knowledge of how to plot functions, plot the theoretical function as a function of wavelength and temperature for Black-Body radiation as modeled by Planck's Law. This assignment will be check at the start of lab.
Lab 4A - Spectroscopy and Black-Body Radiation
Study of light sources, energy efficiency, spectroscopy principles and black-body radiation.
Lab 4B: Diffraction
Study of diffraction, which refers to various phenomena that occur when a wave encounters an obstacle or a slit.
Pre-Lab 4B
- Please review the prelab done earlier this quarter on interference.
- Complete the prelab again, now using light as your wave instead of sound. We are using 650 nm light. Perform two tests, one where you treat the distance between the slits to be 0.25 mm and the detector to be 100 cm away, and one where you use 0.5 mm and 50 cm, respectively. Which interference pattern do you think will be easier to measure.
Lab 4B - Diffraction
Lab 4C: Geometric Optics
The study of geometric optics will focus on the laws of reflection and refraction, the thin lens equation, microscopy principles, and modeling of the eye.
Pre-Lab 4C
- After this Unit each group will begin working on project that utilizes Python and the Arduino. This project must investigate topics covered in this course, 1B, or 1C, starting with a prediction based on physical principles.
- For this prelab, each student should submit one or two project ideas, unique to those recommended on the website. This does not need to be a complete description, just a sentence or two about how it is unique and what it would require. Also include a list of the equipment or materials needed to do the project.
Lab 4C - Geometric Optics
Unit 4 Report - Optics
- Unit 4: Lab Report Due February 25th at 11:59 pm