Waves & Optics

(AP3204)

Course information

Lecturer(s) and
TA(s)
Lecturer(s):
Prof Ruiqin Zhang
E-mail:
aprqz@cityu.edu.hk
Tel:
3442-7849
Office:
G6719

Lecturer(s) and
TA(s)
Teaching Assistant(s):
Mr Faiz UR Rahman
Email: furrahman2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk

Aims

Vibrations, mechanical waves, light waves, and ray

optics are commonly found and used in daily life. As
fundamental topics in physics, waves and optics are
important for more advanced courses in applied
optics program.

This course aims to lay down the foundation

knowledge in waves and optics and its applications in
such a way that the students can identify the
appropriate concepts required in given physics
problems and apply them to formulate suitable
physics solutions.
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Course Intended Learning

Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No

CILOs

Weighting

Identify and describe the vibration and wave natures

of representative systems in daily life.

Identify the wave properties in optics.

Apply the basic concepts and theories on the wave

formations and propagations in media to explain and
predict phenomena in daily life.

Apply basic superposition theory to solve simple

problems in interference and diffraction.

Recognize the disasters caused due to the improper

use of vibrations and waves.

1
5

Teaching and Learning

Activities
TLAs
CILO 1
CILO 2
CILO 3
CILO 4
CILO 5
Total (hrs)

Large Class
Activities
4
2
9
9
2
26

Small Class Laboratory

Activities
Exercise
1
0.5
1
3
1
6.5

3
4
6
0
0
13

Total No. of
hours
8
6.5
16
12
3
45

Assessment
Tasks/Activities

Examination duration: 2 hrs

Percentage of examination, coursework, etc.:
ATs
CILO 1
CILO 2
CILO 3
CILO 4
CILO 5
Total (%)

Exam Assignments
12
6
18
18
6
60

2
1
3
3
1
10

Quizzes
(10)
3
1
4
5
2
15

Laboratory Total (%)

Report
4
21
5
13
6
31
0
26
0
9
15
100

* To pass the course, students need to achieve at least 30% in the examination.
7

Grading of Student
Achievement

Refer to Grading of Courses in the Academic

Regulations and to the Explanatory Notes
The grading is assigned based on students
performance in assessment tasks/activities.

Keyword Syllabus

Vibrations: Natural, damped and forced vibrations. System response. Energy

dissipation. Q-factor, resonance. Superposition.
Wave models: Waves and wave equation. Wave packet, relation between x and
k, Phase and group velocities.
Wave behaviours: Hygens principle, reflection and refraction. Interference.
Wave transmission: Power transmission in mass-spring system and waves on a
string. Boundary conditions, impedance, impedance matching. Standing waves.
Sound waves: Characteristics, intensity, loudness of sound waves. Doppler effect.
Light wave basic: Light waves, coherence, interference, polarization.
Light wave interference and diffraction: Diffraction (Franhfer and Fresnel).
Diffraction grating. Interferometry, holography.
Geometrical optic: Reflection, refraction. Image formation, lenses. Imaging
systems.
Optical instrument: Magnification and resolution.
9

Recommended Reading
Essential Reading:
Ajoy Ghatak, Optics (4th Edition), McGraw-Hill, 2009.
R A Serway, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Saunders (latest
edition) (QC23 .S46 2004); Open University, S271 Discovering Physics
Block B, Unit 6 Vibrations, Unit 7 Waves. (QC21.3 .D54 2001)
Supplementary Reading:
F W Sears, M W Zemansky and H D Young, University Physics,
Addison-Wesley (latest ed.). (QC21.2 .S36 1987)
I G Main, Vibrations and Waves in Physics, Cambridge U Press (latest
ed.). (QC136 .M34 1993)
A P French, Vibrations and Waves, Van Nostrand Reinhold (latest ed.).
(QC235 .F74 1982)
10

What
Rainbow

11

Related Advanced
Courses

AP3280 Geometrical and Instrumental Optics

AP3281 Optical Fabrication and Testing

AP4254/AP8254 Fundamentals of Laser Optics

AP4255/AP8255 Optoelectronic Devices and

Systems

AP4263/AP8263 Optical Design

AP4282 Physical Optics

12

AP3204 Course
Schedule

Topic 1: Vibrations (weeks 1-2; hw 1)

Topic 2: Wave Motion (weeks 3-5; hw 2)

Free vibrations; natural & damped vibrations

Forced vibrations & resonance
Waves & wave equation
Wave models; waves on a string
Sound Waves

Topic 3: Electromagnetic Waves (week 6; hw

3)

Electromagnetic theory
Photons and light

AP3204 Course
Schedule

Topic 4: Light Waves (wks 7-10; hw4a,

hw4b)

Topic 5: Optics (weeks 11-12; hw 5)

Reflection, refraction and polarization

Interference
Interferometry, holography
Diffraction and Grating
Geometrical optics
Optical Instruments

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