School of Biophysical Sciences
and Electrical Engineering
Swinburne University of Technology
Australia
Physics in a Suitcase - Portable Lecture Demonstration Kits
Light, Optics and Perception
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References:
GEOMETRIC OPTICS
- light travels in straight lines - ray model
- inverse square law
- bending of light - index of refraction, Snell's Law
- reflection - angle of incidence = angle of reflection
- total internal reflection, fiber optics
- image formation in mirrors - flat, convex, concave; real & virtual images, focal length
- image formation in lenses - convex, concave; real & virtual images, focal length
laser, shadows from light bulb
Inverse Square Law - ESS59
adapt Disappearing Glass Rods - ECII, R104 & MUOb-1, Ob-2, see also ESS40 Refraction in Water - PD16; - video Penny In a Cup - UNC6A42.40;
adapt Varying Index of Refraction - PD18;
corner reflector - adapt ECIII, R170, MUOa-6 (see also ESS31);
Laser and Flat Mirror - UNC6A10.15;
Aluminium Foil Reflection - UNC6A10.22
Alex's t.i.r. demo; Frustrated t.i.r. - video Ring of Light - UNC6A44.50; fibers - MUOe-1?, video MUOe-2, Steal the Signal - UNC6A44.42
kaleidoscope - adapt ECI,R20 or MUOa-4?; Mirror & Rose - adapt UNC6A20.30 or MUOa-5?;
Cold Candle - adapt UNC6A10.60 or adapt PD15?;
pinhole magnifier - adapt ECI, R14? (see also comments in ESS76 and Pinhole Projection - PD13 & also Pinholes Projected With A Lens - UNC6A60.50; Ray Tracing - adapt MUOa-3; Water Magnifying Glass (lacemakers) - adapt STL p.165? - video Giant Lens (Fresnel) - ESS54; Magic Wand - ESS62? but see also Real Image on a Moving Stick - PD22 image quality - adapt ECIII, R167?; Mirage Maker
PHYSICAL OPTICS
- interference - 2 slits, thin films, (Michelson interferometer)
- visible spectrum, dispersion
- diffraction - single slit, double slit, disk
- diffraction - gratings
- spectroscopy - emission, absorption; prism, grating
- polarization - plane-polarized light, crossed polaroids, polarization by scattering, optical activity, birefringence, dichroism
- Rayleigh Scattering
- colour mixing & spectra
- Doppler effect
- Fluorescence
Bridge Light - ESS13; Newton's rings with float glass - adapt MUOc-2?, see also STL p.315 - video?; Moire Patterns - ESS68 (for overhead); Young's fringes - adapt STL p.319?
Rainbow - BERK E+60+10
viewing diffraction patterns - adapt ECI, R7? & MUOd-1 & PD27,
ruler & wavelength of light - MUOc-1, grating patterns - MUOd-2,
white light spectrum - MUOf-1; see also STL p.324
spectroscope on video camera
adapt polaroid island - ECIII, R173 (include mica, calcite, strained perspex & glass, tourmaline, waxed paper between crossed polaroids); crossed polaroids; polarized sunglasses & Polarized Light Mosaic - ESS78
.adapt ECI, R23; bone stress - video ECII, R96; barber's pole -MUOg-5 - video; adapt Polarization by Reflection - PD24; Plexiglass Birefringence - UNC6H35.17; optical activity - adapt STL p.362?
miniaturize or video blue sky demo - ECII, R95 & MUOg-4 & see also STL p.349
mixing coloured light - adapt ECII, R105?,
The color wheel - adapt STL p.248; Transmittance curves of filters and dyes - STL p.250
Doppler effect (sound) - ESS41
dependence of fluorescence on incoming light frequency rather than intensity - fluorescent plastic on o/head projector with coloured plastic as filters
OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS
- camera
- human vision; defects & corrective lenses
- telescopes - refracting and reflecting (Newtonian & Cassegrainian), resolving power, compound microscope
- lens & mirror aberrations
- fibre optic communications
aperture stop & depth of field - adapt STL p.129?
model of the eye (dissectible) - adapt as overheads?, active model of the eye - adapt MUOa-2?; Blind Spot - UNC6J10.30; Orientation of the retinal image - STL p.149; Accommodation - STL p.149 - video?, The Iris - video STL p.151 - video?; astigmatism - adapt STL p.162; Animal Eyes and Vision
adapt telescope demo - ECI, R13?; Telescope Models - UNC6A70.20, microscope demo
Thick Lens - Chromatic Aberration - UNC6A65.20, Thick Lens - Barrel and Pincushion Distortion UNC6A65.30 but see also STL Fig 3.42, p.100; spherical aberration in a cylindrical mirror - STL p.98?
Modulated Laser (flashlight) - ESS67?
PERCEPTION
- colour perception
- illusions
Ishihara colour tests, colour filters - adapt ECIII, R165?; Colour Contrast - adapt ESS25 for overhead?; Fechner's colors - STL p.285?
illusions - adapt ECI, R41? or STL p.284 (but Benham's disk is difficult under fluorescent light), see also ESS36; Horse's Tail -ECI, R43 & ESS56
.adapt Disappearing Act - ESS39?;
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