Geometric And Wave Optics
- Sciences
- 100 level
- 3 credit units
- 171 pages
- 15 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 150 hours
- Maths
- Intermediate
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, problem solving
- Practical work
- Yes
- Basic Physics
- Further Mathematics
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PHY124, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PHY124 · UNIT 1 REFLECTION AT PLANE SURFACES
The final examination for PHY 124 will be of three hours duration and carry a weightage of 70% of the total course grade. The examination will consists of questions which reflect the type of self-testing practice exercises and tutor marked problems you have previously encountered. All areas of the course shall be assessed.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the concepts of reflection and refraction.
- Describe how images are formed by lenses and mirrors.
- Apply the laws of geometric optics to solve problems.
- Explain the principles of interference and polarization.
- Describe the function of optical instruments such as microscopes and telescopes.
What it prepares you for
- Optical Engineer
- Physics Teacher
- Laboratory Technician
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Medical Imaging Technician
- Telecommunications
- Medical Imaging
- Optical Engineering
- Education
- Research
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces
Unit 4: Refraction through Prisms
Refraction through prisms involves understanding complex geometric relationships and applying Snell's law in non-intuitive ways.
- Module 3: Interference and Polarization of Light
Unit 2: Interference in Thin Films and Air Wedge
The conditions for constructive and destructive interference in thin films require careful consideration of phase changes upon reflection and path length differences.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 45 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces
Unit 1: Reflection at Plane Surfaces · 3 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 2Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces
Unit 2: Reflection at Curved Surfaces · 3 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 3Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces
Unit 3: Refraction at Plane Surfaces · 3 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 4Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces
Unit 4: Refraction through Prisms · 3 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 5Module 1: Reflection and Refraction at Plane and Curved Surfaces
Unit 5: Refraction at Curved Surfaces · 3 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 6Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments
Unit 1: Images Formed by a Converging Lens and Diverging Lens (Ray Tracing) · 3 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 7Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments
Unit 2: Lens Formula and Spectra · 3 hours
State the lens maker's law.. Apply the lens maker's law in solving problems.. Define and explain dispersion..
- Week 8Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments
Unit 3: The Eye · 3 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 9Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments
Unit 4: Optical Instruments · 3 hours
Define visual angle and angle of magnification.. Distinguish between a microscope and a telescope.. Explain how a microscope functions..
- Week 10Module 2: Lenses and Optical Instruments
Unit 5: Other Types of Telescopes · 3 hours
Define and explain the eye-ring.. Distinguish between astronomical and terrestrial telescopes.. Explain the operation of the terrestrial telescope..
- Week 11Module 3: Interference and Polarization of Light
Unit 1: Interference · 3 hours
Explain the wave nature of light.. Explain what coherent sources are.. Define interference and its types..
- Week 12Module 3: Interference and Polarization of Light
Unit 2: Interference in Thin Films and Air Wedge · 3 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 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 13Module 3: Interference and Polarization of Light
Unit 4: Polarization of Light · 3 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 hours
Define and explain Brewster's law.. Define and explain Malu's law.. List the applications of polarization of light..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all unit objectives to ensure comprehensive understanding.
- Practice ray diagram constructions for lenses and mirrors from Units 1-7.
- Solve all example problems in each unit, focusing on applying formulas.
- Create flashcards for key terms: refraction, interference, polarization.
- Focus on understanding the differences between optical instruments.
- Practice past examination questions to get familiar with the exam format.
- Allocate study time proportionally to the weightage of each module.
- Create concept maps linking Units 11-15 wave optics concepts.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PHY124 about?
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.
How many units does PHY124 have?
PHY124, Geometric And Wave Optics, has 15 units across 3 modules, over 171 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PHY124?
PHY124 carries 3 credit units, at 100 level in Sciences.
Is PHY124 hard?
PHY124 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and problem solving work, and it has a practical component.
How long does PHY124 take to study?
About 150 hours of study, spread across its 15 units.
How is PHY124 assessed?
PHY124 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What do I need before starting PHY124?
Basic Physics Further Mathematics
What can I do with PHY124?
Optical Engineer, Physics Teacher, Laboratory Technician, Telecommunications Engineer and Medical Imaging Technician.