UNIT 10. GEOMETRIC AND PHYSICAL OPTICS

At the end of this unit the student should be able to:

- Discuss the evidence supporting the ray model of light

- State and apply the law of reflection

- Define the following terms for spherical mirrors: principal axis, focal

  point, focal length, center of curvature

- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of ray diagrams to find the image

  of an object using a converging and a diverging mirror

- Understand how mirrors form real and virtual images

- Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems that use the mirror

  equation to calculate the focal length of a mirror, image distance,

  image height and the magnification

- Explain what is meant by spherical aberration

- Define the index of refraction and describe the behavior of refracted

  light

- Apply Snell’s law to the solution of problems

- Explain the concepts of critical angle and total internal reflection

- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of ray diagrams to find the image

  of an object using a converging and a diverging lens and the

  combination of lenses

- Understand how lenses form real and virtual images

- Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems that use the lens

  equation to calculate the focal length of a lens, image distance,

  image height and the magnification

- Explain how electromagnetic waves are produced

- Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and the relationship between

  frequency, wavelength and speed of electromagnetic waves

- Describe Roemer and Michelson’s experiment to determine the

  speed of light

- Explain the dispersion of light and the visible spectrum

- State the conditions for constructive interference and destructive

  interference

- Describe Young's double slit experiment and apply the results of

  the experiment to predict the location of bright and dark fringes

- Describe the pattern observed by the use of a diffraction grating

- Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving the use of a

  single slit, a double slit and a diffraction grating

- Explain and apply the characteristics of thin film interference using

  the concepts of boundary behavior

- Calculate the thickness of a thin film