ENGINEERS' PHYSICS E1A OPTICS

Overview

1 Ray optics

1.1 Reflection
1.1.1 Law of reflection
1.1.2 Combinations of mirrors, corner reflectors
1.1.3 Images formed by planar mirrors

1.2 Refraction
1.2.1 Huygens's Principle
1.2.2 Refraction
1.2.3 Refractive index, Snell's law

1.2.4 Real and apparent depth
1.2.5 Parallel layers with different refractive indices

1.2.6 Total internal reflection
1.2.7 Optical fibres & prism reflectors
1.2.8 Dispersion & prisms

1.3 Images formed by spherical mirrors
1.3.1 Reminder: Images formed by plane mirrors
1.3.2 Reflection at curved surfaces
1.3.3 Focal length and radius of curvature of spherical mirrors

download overheads for sections 1.3.7-1.4.3

1.3.4 Image formation
1.3.5 Principal rays & ray diagram

download overheads for sections 1.4.4-1.5.1

1.3.6 Concave & convex mirrors
1.3.7 Sign convention for mirrors
1.3.8 Mirror equation
1.3.9 Real and virtual objects and images
1.3.10 Image size and transverse magnification

1.4 Lenses
1.4.1 Concave and convex lenses
1.4.2 Focal points
1.4.3 Thin-lens approximation, principal rays & ray diagram
1.4.4 Thin lens formula and sign convention for lenses
1.4.5 Real & virtual images
1.4.6 Magnification
1.4.7 "Infinity"

1.5 Optical instruments

1.5.1 The eye
1.5.2 Simple magnifying glass & angular magnification
1.5.3 Combinations of lenses/mirrors
1.5.4 Microscope
1.5.5 Telescope

2 Wave optics

download overheads for sections 2.1.1-2.2.1

2.1 Harmonic waves
2.1.1 Principle of superposition
2.1.2 Harmonic travelling waves
2.1.3 Electromagnetic spectrum

2.2 Interference

2.2.1 Addition of two harmonic waves
2.2.2 Path difference & phase difference
2.2.3 Circular (or spherical) waves
2.2.4 Interference between two circular waves
2.2.5 Young's double-slit experiment

2.2.6 Optical path length
2.2.7 Phase change on reflection
2.2.8 Thin-film interference
Newton's rings
Lens coatings
Colour in thin films

2.3 Diffraction
2.3.1 Reminder: Huygens's Principle
2.3.2 Single slit
2.3.3 Multiple slits
2.3.4 Gratings

Click on one of the PDF icons on the right to download the overheads for the section(s) shown on the left.

Note that some PDF plug-ins cannot display or print some of the handouts. Should this happen, try saving the handout document to disk and open it in Acrobat Reader by double-clicking on the icon.

Download one huge (10.8M) PDF file that has 4 overheads to each page (there are 30 of them) and which is therefore 4 times cheaper to print.

PREVIOUS EXAMS & CLASS TEST

exam 2001 optics problems
exam 2002 optics problems & solutions
resit 2001 optics problems and solutions
resit 2002 optics problems & solutions
class test 2004 optics problems and solutions

Questions, comments, criticisms & suggestions: Talk to me before or after the lecture, see me in room 155 (Kelvin Building) or e-mail me (j.courtial@physics.gla.ac.uk).

waves from a point source (section 2.2.3)

interference between waves from two point sources (section 2.2.4)

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