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PHY124Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Geometric And Wave Optics

This course introduces the fundamental principles of geometric and wave optics. It explores the dual nature of light, encompassing both wave and particle characteristics. Students will learn about reflection and refraction at plane and curved surfaces, lenses, and optical instruments like telescopes and microscopes. The course also covers wave optics aspects, including interference in thin films, air wedges, Newton's rings, and the laws and applications of polarization, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of light and its behavior.

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150h
Study Time
13
Weeks
12h
Per Week
intermediate
Math Level
Course Keywords
Geometric OpticsWave OpticsReflectionRefractionPolarization

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📊
Math Level
Moderate Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Reflection at Plane and Curved Surfaces

2

Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces

3

Lenses and Optical Instruments

4

The Human Eye

5

Interference

6

Polarization

Total Topics6 topics

Requirements

Knowledge and skills recommended for success

Basic Physics

Further Mathematics

💡 Don't have all requirements? Don't worry! Many students successfully complete this course with basic preparation and dedication.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Optical Engineer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Physics Teacher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Laboratory Technician

Apply your skills in this growing field

Telecommunications Engineer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Medical Imaging Technician

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

TelecommunicationsMedical ImagingOptical EngineeringEducationResearch

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces

3h

Unit 1: Reflection at Plane Surfaces

3 study hours
  • •Read the introduction to understand the nature of light and its properties.
  • •Study the laws of reflection and their experimental verification.
  • •Solve problems related to reflection at plane surfaces.
Week
2

Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces

3h

Unit 2: Reflection at Curved Surfaces

3 study hours
  • •Differentiate between reflection at curved surfaces and plane surfaces.
  • •Identify the principal focus of a curved mirror.
  • •Draw ray diagrams to obtain images formed by curved mirrors.
Week
3

Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces

3h

Unit 3: Refraction at Plane Surfaces

3 study hours
  • •Distinguish between rare and denser mediums.
  • •Explain the concept of refraction and how it takes place.
  • •Define refractive index and state Snell's law.
Week
4

Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces

3h

Unit 4: Refraction through Prisms

3 study hours
  • •Differentiate between refraction through a rectangular glass block and a prism.
  • •Define angle of deviation and minimum deviation of a prism.
  • •Solve problems related to deviation in prisms.
Week
5

Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces

3h

Unit 5: Refraction at Curved Surfaces

3 study hours
  • •Distinguish between refraction at a plane surface and at a curved surface.
  • •State the equation governing image distance, object distance, and parameters of the curved refracting surface.
  • •Define a lens and identify its characteristic features.
Week
6

Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments

3h

Unit 1: Images Formed by a Converging Lens and Diverging Lens (Ray Tracing)

3 study hours
  • •Trace rays to locate the image formed by a converging lens for various object distances.
  • •Distinguish the differences between images formed by convex and concave lenses.
  • •Solve problems associated with images formed by convex and concave lenses using ray tracing.
Week
7

Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments

3h

Unit 2: Lens Formula and Spectra

3 study hours
  • •State the lens maker's law.
  • •Apply the lens maker's law in solving problems.
  • •Define and explain dispersion.
Week
8

Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments

3h

Unit 3: The Eye

3 study hours
  • •Identify the various parts of the eye.
  • •Discuss the function(s) of each part of the eye.
  • •Define the power of a lens and solve problems involving power of a lens.
Week
9

Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments

3h

Unit 4: Optical Instruments

3 study hours
  • •Define visual angle and angle of magnification.
  • •Distinguish between a microscope and a telescope.
  • •Explain how a microscope functions.
Week
10

Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments

3h

Unit 5: Other Types of Telescopes

3 study hours
  • •Define and explain the eye-ring.
  • •Distinguish between astronomical and terrestrial telescopes.
  • •Explain the operation of the terrestrial telescope.
Week
11

Module 3: Interference and Polarization of Light

3h

Unit 1: Interference

3 study hours
  • •Explain the wave nature of light.
  • •Explain what coherent sources are.
  • •Define interference and its types.
Week
12

Module 3: Interference and Polarization of Light

6h

Unit 2: Interference in Thin Films and Air Wedge

3 study hours
  • •Explain what a thin film is and describe the origin of the interference pattern produced by it.
  • •Explain what an air wedge is and how it forms interference patterns.
  • •Solve problems associated with interference in thin films and air wedges.

Unit 3: Newton's Rings and Interference in Thin Films

3 study hours
  • •Identify Newton's rings and explain their theory.
  • •Differentiate between Newton's rings and interference by thin films.
  • •Solve problems involving thin films.
Week
13

Module 3: Interference and Polarization of Light

6h

Unit 4: Polarization of Light

3 study hours
  • •Differentiate polarized and unpolarized light.
  • •Describe the various ways of producing polarized light.
  • •Define and explain optical activity.

Unit 5: Laws and Application of Polarization

3 study hours
  • •Define and explain Brewster's law.
  • •Define and explain Malu's law.
  • •List the applications of polarization of light.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review all unit objectives to ensure comprehensive understanding.

2

Practice ray diagram constructions for lenses and mirrors from Units 1-7.

3

Solve all example problems in each unit, focusing on applying formulas.

4

Create flashcards for key terms: refraction, interference, polarization.

5

Focus on understanding the differences between optical instruments.

6

Practice past examination questions to get familiar with the exam format.

7

Allocate study time proportionally to the weightage of each module.

8

Create concept maps linking Units 11-15 wave optics concepts.

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