• We are available for any custom works this month
  • Main office: Springville center X264, Park Ave S.01
  • Call us (123) 456-7890 - (123) 555-7891
  
  
  

Course Info

About this Course

The aim of this subject is to introduce the concept of waves in physics and their applications. To begin with, simple harmonic motion is introduced for the purpose of demonstrating the relationships between the two types of motion in terms of their mathematical functions. Overall, the syllabus comprises mechanical waves, both transverse and longitudinal waves, and electromagnetic waves, which covers the wave theory of light. The phenomena of superposition and interference for these types of waves are carefully discussed and illustrated. The topics in optics also include some selected optical instruments like lenses and spherical mirrors.

Course Syllabus

Simple Harmonic Motion (1)
SHM: Introduction
Mass-spring system :
Phase angle,
Mass-spring system (Energy – cases without friction)
Mass-Spring System (Energy –cases with friction),

Simple Harmonic Motion (2)
Damped Oscillation, Time-dependent amplitude
Resonance and Forced oscillation
Simple pendulum
Physical Pendulum and Rotational Inertia

Mechanical Waves (1)
Waves (types of waves)
Mechanical waves, Wave functions

Mechanical Waves (2)
Wave speed in a stretched string:
Transverse speed
Wave speed
Tension in the string, Linear mass density
Application (examples)
Reflection and transmission of waves

Sound Waves
Sound waves (Longitudinal)
Propagation, intensity of periodic sound waves

Superposition and Standing Waves (1)
Superposition and interference
Superposition Principle
Phasor addition of waves
Interference of sound waves

Superposition and Standing Waves (2)
Standing waves in a stretched string
Standing waves in an air columns,
Beats

Electromagnetic Waves
E-M Waves, Maxwell’s Equations,
Energy, momentum, Poynting Vector, and radiation pressure

The Nature of Light and the Wave Theory
Speed of Light
The Ray Approximation in Geometric Optics
Reflection and Refraction
Dispersion and prism
Huygens’ Principle
Total Internal Reflection
Fermat’s Principle

Geometrical Optics (1)
Images Formed by Plane Mirrors
Images Formed by Spherical Mirrors
Images Formed by Refraction

Geometrical Optics (2)
Lenses
Lens Aberrations
The camera
The simple magnifier
The compound microscope
The telescope

Interference of Light Waves (1)
Interference by Division of Wave Front:
Conditions for Interference
Young’s Double-slit Experiment
Intensity Distribution of the Double-slit Interference Pattern
Phasor Addition of E-Fields Intensity
Change of Phase Due to Reflection
The Michelson Interferometer

Interference of Light Waves (2)
Interference by Diffraction of Amplitude:
Newton’s Ring
Interference in Thin Film
Multiple Beam Interference

Dfffraction
Diffraction: Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction
Single-slit Diffraction
The Diffraction Grating
x-ray diffraction

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 : What is the meaning of optics and waves?
A1 : Optics is the study of light and its uses. "Light" is electromagnetic radiation which can be detected by our eyes, ie electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the range ~400 nm - 700 nm (though often very similar ideas apply beyond both ends of this wavelength range). Source: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~bds2/optics/lec0.html#:~:text=Optics%20is%20the%20study%20of,ends%20of%20this%20wavelength%20range).