Optics

Light: a visible form of energy and is part of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum
Energy = hf {h = 6.626 x 10-34 Js}

Speed of sound: c = 3.0 x 108 m/s, c = fƛ

Spectrum ƛ (m) F (Hz)

radio 103 – 10-1 106 – 1010
microwave 10-1 – 10-6 1010 – 1012
visible 10-6 – 10-7 1015 – 1016
ultraviolet 10-7 – 10-8 1016 – 1017
x-rays 10-8 – 10-11 1017 – 1021
gamma rays 10-11 – 1015 1021 – 1025

Virtual image: the light rays appear to diverge from a point

Real image: the light rays converge to a point

Spherical mirrors are capable of providing both real and virtual images under certain
circumstances

f
Focal point: where parallell bounce to

Refraction: the bending (change of direction) that happens to light (waves) as it changes
mediums at an angle and is gouverned by Snell’s law.

a) be absorbed
b) be transmitted (refracted)
c) be reflected
d) some combinatyion of the above

Dispersion: the separating of different frequencies/wavelengths of light

v = fƛ
c = fƛ (different ƛ and f for each colour)

Primary colours:
RBG RBY MCY
Addative Subtractive
Producing the light Reflecting all types of lights except for the one that gets
rejected

Total internal reflection: light must travel into a faster medium [n2 < n1, so that Ɵi < Ɵr]
As Ɵi increases, Ɵr increases. At some Ɵi, Ɵr = 90 and light stops moving into medium 2 and is
100% reflected. This is the critical angle, Ɵc. TIR occurs for Ɵi≥ Ɵc.

Converging lens: refracts light to a point

Mlinear = (hi/ho) = (di/do)

Diverging lens:
term layman problem Correction
myopia nearsighted Image in front of Converging lens
retina
hyperopia farsighted Image behing retina Converging lens
presbyopia farsighted Lens in eye loses Converging lens
elasticity
astigmatism Cornea/lens not Lenses of dirrerent
spherical radii
glaucoma Vision loss Damage to the optic Not much
nerve
cataracts Reduced vision ability Opaque/cloudy area Surgery (cataract
removal)

Cameras:
– pinhole: most basic type of camera. Does not have a lens; sharper images fromed from
smaller holes (but not too small!)

– box camera: very similar to pin hole camera, but has a fixed lens. E.g. disposable cameras

– view cameras: the stereotypical “old camera”

 – SLR and TLR: not a single lens unless compared to twin, uses prisms to direct light.
“mirror” moves out of the way for the picture

Photography:
– Filmspeed:how quicly the film’s silver haicle will react
• Larger grains absorb more light and reacts faster
• Application dictates best speed
• Smaller grains = better quality
– Focus: adjusting distance between lens and film
– Focal length: “zoom”
– Exposure time (shutter sound):
• Now long shutter stays open
• 1/60th , 1/1000th of a second, etc.
– Aperature: (shutter size):
• Controlled by f-stop a ratio of focal length to diameter
• fstop=f/d
• each f-stop doubles of halves the amount of light
• depth of field affected by f-stop
– Optical power: p = 1/f
– Night vision:
• Image intensifier
• Thermal vision
• Enchanced intensity
• Enchanced spectra range

The simple magnifier:

(see attachment, next page)

Microscope:
(real image = virtual image)
Telescope:

Reflecting telescope: