General Geometric Optics

- Brain-teasers
- Mystery Boxes
- Students' Misconceptions about Light.

Mirrors
- Plane Mirrors
- Concave & Convex Mirrors

Lenses
- Prior Knowledge and Explorations.
- Lab.
- Ray Diagrams.
- Applying What You Know.

Refraction
- Prior Knowledge and Explorations
- Lab
- Explanations and Links
- Applying What You Know

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Physical Optics

Wave Interference
Engage
- Slinkies, ropes, standing waves with motor

Explore
- wave machine

Explain
- Transparencies
- Move a source around and see the interference pattern: http://www.explorescience.com/activities/Activity_page.cfm?ActivityID=47
- See moving water waves: http://physics.nad.ru/Physics/English/waves.htm

Apply
- Explain pattern of transparencies.
- Suggest other demos/analogies.

Light Interference
Engage
- Waves on water: http://physics.nad.ru/Physics/English/waves.htm

Explore
- Experiment with 2 or more slits, slit spacing, and wavelength: http://www.physics.nwu.edu/ugrad/vpl/optics/diffraction.html
- Or, change wavelength, phase, and amplitude for 2 waves: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/interference/waveinteractions/index.html
- Change distance between 2 sources: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/interference/doubleslit/index.html

Explain
- Derive the equations:
Interference pattern Equation
- Click on a point and see the path difference: http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/waveInterference/waveInterference.html

Apply
- Find wavelength of laser light.

Light Diffraction
Engage
- Photos of sun, star diffraction.
- Hold two fingers close together.
- Observe diffraction with various objects: hair, cloth, etc.

Explore
- Vary slit width and wavelength for one slit. Click on a point and see the path difference: http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/waveInterference/waveInterference.html
- Change wavelength and slit size: http://ww2.unime.it/dipart/i_fismed/wbt/ita/slitdiffr/slitdiffr_ita.htm
- Change wavelength and slit size: http://webphysics.ph.msstate.edu/javamirror/ipmj/java/slitdiffr/

Explain
- Do the math for diffraction:
Diffraction equation
Blow-up of diagram

Apply
- Find size of object from known wavelength, or find wavelenth from known slit.

Thin Film Interference
Engage
- Soap bubbles

Explore
- Change thickness of soap bubble: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/interference/soapbubbles/index.html
- See examples of butterfly wings: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/interferenceintro.html

Explain
- See math

Apply
- Measure thickness of hair between two microscope slides.
- Find everyday uses for thin film interference.

Light Polarization
Engage
- Corn syrup, plastic fork, tape, etc.

Explore
- See interference for different thickness of soap bubble: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/interference/soapbubbles/index.html

Explain
- Group discussion.

Apply
- Make picture of Scotch tape.

Particle-Wave Duality - See particles and waves shot through two slits: http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/index.pl

More optics links.
Other workshops at http://pdg.lbl.gov/~aerzber/ptra02.html

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Project Contact: Andria Erzberger
Last Update: Feb 28, 2003