Optics Lecturer 1

Second stage Asst. Prof. Dr. Anwer Ahmed

Physics department, University of Samarra

The nature of Light :

Light is a transverse, electromagnetic wave that can be seen by humans.

 Rectilinear Propagation of Light (light travels in straight lines).

The rays of light emanating from a single point a near the top of the bulb. Of the

many rays of light radiating in many directions the ray that travels in the exact

direction of the hole passes through to the point a' near the bottom of the image

screen. Similarly, a ray leaving b near the bottom of the bulb and passing

through the hole will arrive at b', near the top of the image screen. Thus it can

be seen how an inverted image of the entire bulb is formed.

 Light is produced by one of two methods:

a- Incandescence is the emission of light from "hot" matter (T ≳ 800 K).

b- Luminescence is the emission of light when excited electrons fall to lower

energy levels.
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Optics Lecturer 1
Second stage Asst. Prof. Dr. Anwer Ahmed
Physics department, University of Samarra

 Intensity is the absolute measure of a light wave's power density.

 Brightness is the relative intensity as perceived by the average human eye.

 The speed of light is finite and that it has an approximate value of

v = 300,000 km/s = 186,400 mi/s

In 1849 the Fizeau measured the speed of light here on earth.

The most generally accepted value of this universal constant

c = 299,792.5 km/s

For practical purposes we will use : c = 3.0 X 108 m/s

Newton believed light to be made up of small particles emitted by every light

source. According to Newton's corpuscular theory, light should travel faster in

an optically dense medium like water than in a less dense medium like air.

Huygens believed light to be composed of waves, similar to water or sound

waves. Huygens' wave theory required light to travel slower in the more

optically dense medium.

 Huygens declared that an expanding sphere of light behaves as if each point on

the wave front were a new source of radiation of the same frequency and phase.

Foucault found the speed of light to be less than in air. This result was

considered by many to be a strong confirmation of the wave theory.

Michelson measured the speed of light in air and water. For water he found the

value of 225,000 km/s, which is just three-fourths the speed in a vacuum. In

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Optics Lecturer 1
Second stage Asst. Prof. Dr. Anwer Ahmed
Physics department, University of Samarra

ordinary optical glass, the speed was still lower, about two-thirds the speed in a

vacuum.

Wave fronts and rays

In the graphic representation and analysis of wave behavior, two concepts are

widely used—wave fronts and rays.

A wave front is a line representing all parts of a wave that are in phase and an

equal number of wavelengths from the source of the wave. The shape of the

wave front depends upon the nature of the source; a point source will emit

waves having circular or spherical wave fronts, while a large, extended source

will emit waves whose wave fronts are effectively flat, or plane.

A ray is a line extending outward from the source and representing the direction

of propagation of the wave at any point along it. Rays are perpendicular to wave

fronts.

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Optics Lecturer 1
Second stage Asst. Prof. Dr. Anwer Ahmed
Physics department, University of Samarra

Index of refraction:

The index of refraction, or refractive index, of any optical medium is defined as the

ratio between the speed of light in a vacuum and the speed of light in the medium:

Refractive Index=

In algebraic symbols: n = (The letter n is customarily used to represent

this ratio).

The electromagnetic Spectrum:

The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation.

Radiation is energy that travels and spreads out as the visible light that comes from a

lamp in your house and the radio waves that come from a radio station are two types of

electromagnetic radiation. The other types of electromagnetic radiation that make up

the electromagnetic spectrum are microwaves, infrared light, ultraviolet light, X-rays

and gamma-rays. The image below shows the comparison of wavelength, frequency

and energy for the electromagnetic spectrum..

Comparison of wavelength, frequency and energy for the electromagnetic spectrum

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Optics Lecturer 1
Second stage Asst. Prof. Dr. Anwer Ahmed
Physics department, University of Samarra

Radio: Your radio captures radio waves emitted by radio stations. Radio waves

are also emitted by stars and gases in space.

Microwave: Microwave radiation will cook your popcorn in just a few minutes,

but is also used by astronomers to learn about the structure of nearby galaxies.

Infrared: Night vision goggles pick up the infrared light emitted by our skin

and objects with heat. In space, infrared light helps us map the dust between

stars.

Visible: Our eyes detect visible light. Fireflies, light bulbs, and stars all emit

visible light.

Ultraviolet: Ultraviolet radiation is emitted by the Sun and are the reason skin

tans and burns. "Hot" objects in space emit UV radiation as well.

X-ray: A dentist uses X-rays to image your teeth, and airport security uses them

to see through your bag. Hot gases in the Universe also emit X-rays.

Gamma ray: Doctors use gamma-ray imaging to see inside your body. The

biggest gamma-ray generator of all is the Universe.