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Lecture Notes 7 - 203 Optics PDF
Lecture Notes 7 - 203 Optics PDF
Geometrical Optics
In describing the propagation
of light as a wave we need to
understand:
wavefronts: a surface passing
through points of a wave that
have the same phase and
amplitude.
rays: a ray describes the
direction of wave propagation.
A ray is a vector perpendicular
to the wavefront.
incident ray
reflected ray
refracted ray
Types of Reflection
When light reflects from a
smooth surface, it undergoes
specular reflection (parallel
rays will all be reflected in the
same direction).
When light reflects from a
rough surface, it undergoes
diffuse reflection (parallel rays
will be reflected in a variety of
directions).
ho
do
di
do = di and ho = hi
vertex Q = do + di
hi
Images
An image is formed at the point where the rays of light
leaving the object either actually intersect or where they
appear to originate.
If the light rays actually do intersect, then the image is a real
image. If the light only appears to be coming from a point,
but is not physically there, then the image is a virtual image.
We define the magnification, m, of an image to be:
di
image height hi
m=
=
=
object height ho
do
Real image
Plane Mirrors
A plane mirror image has the following properties:
*The mirror in your bathroom is a piece of plate glass with a coating on the
backside so they are second surface mirrors.
mirror
you
Spherical Mirrors
concave
A spherical mirror is a mirror
whose surface shape is
spherical with radius of curvature
R. There are two types of
spherical mirrors: concave and
convex. **The principal axis (optical axis,
vertex) is the straight line between C and the
midpoint of the mirror
convex
Focal Point
When parallel rays are
incident upon a
spherical mirror, the
reflected rays intersect
at the focal point F.
For a concave mirror,
the focal point is in front
of the mirror.
For a convex mirror, the
focal point is behind the
mirror.
Focal Length
The focal length f is the distance from the surface of
the mirror to the focal point. It can be shown that
the focal length is half the radius of curvature of the
mirror.
Sign Convention: the focal length is negative if the
focal point is behind the mirror.
For a concave mirror, f = R
For a convex mirror, f = R
(R is always positive)
Ray Tracing
We will use three
principal rays to
determine where an
image will be
located.
Optical axis
Curvature point
Curvature point
concave
Real image
applet mirror/lens
convex
Virtual image
h0
d0 R
=
hi R d i
h0
d0
=
hi d i
R di di
=
do R do
with
f= R
Mirror Equation
1 1 1
= +
f d0 di
1 1 1
+ =
do di f
do = distance from object to
mirror
di = distance from image to
mirror
f = focal length
Snells Law
In general, when light enters a new material its direction will
change. The angle of refraction 2 is related to the angle of
incidence 1 by Snells Law: sin1 sin 2
v1
v2
= constant
Normal line
Air
Glass
n=2
n = 1.6
n = 1.2
n
sin c = 2
n1
Object in the sky appear to be shifted towards the zenith by a small amount.
This is due to the refractive effect of the atmosphere. This has been known
since the time of Ptlomey in Egypt in 150 BC.
ASTRONOMICAL REFRACTION: The displacements of astronomical objects by
atmospheric refraction.
These effects are many orders of magnitude larger than the accuracy of the best
astronomical position measurements, and so large that the mountings of most
astronomical telescopes are adjusted to minimize the effects of refraction.
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/rainbows/primrays.htm
n>1
Lenses
A lens is an object that
uses refraction to bend
light and form images
Light is reflected from
a mirror. Light is
refracted through a
lens.
Focal Point
The focal point of a lens is the place where
parallel rays incident upon the lens converge.
converging lens
diverging lens
The P ray propagates parallel to the principal axis until it encounters the
lens, where it is refracted to pass through the focal point on the far side of
the lens. The F ray passes through the focal point on the near side of the
lens, then leaves the lens parallel to the principal axis. The M ray passes
through the middle of the lens with no deflection.
1 1 1
+ =
do di f
1
1
1
= (n 1)
f
R 1 R2
This expression is good for a lens in air. The R-values
are the radii of curvature of the first and second
surfaces of the lens. n is the refraction index. So f is
determined by construction: n and curvature Rs
ARE fixed by construction.
http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/Lens/lens_e.html
**Not all lenses are thin lenses - Thick lens equation:
Dispersion
In a material, the velocity of light (and therefore the index of
refraction) can depend on the wavelength. This is known
as dispersion. Blue light travels slower in glass and water than does
red light. (The shorter wavelengths are refracted by the greatest
amount)
As a result of dispersion,
different colors entering a
material will be refracted at
different angles.
Dispersive materials can be
used to separate a light
beam into its spectrum (the
colors that make up the light
beam). Example: prism