Superposition, interference and diffraction
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Explain the key features of a wave (wavelength, phase, amplitude) Explain the difference between phase difference and path difference…
Ray tracing
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Explain what a ray diagram is Draw an accurate ray diagram for a convex lens Draw an accurate diagram…
Dispersion and chromatic aberration
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Explain what dispersion is Understand how dispersion occurs Explain how rainbows are produced Explain what chromatic aberration is Discuss…
The reduced eye and spherical and cylindrical lenses
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Outline all the important features of a reduced eye Outline the difference between a spherical refractive error and a…
Reflection
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Define the laws of reflection Calculate the angle of reflection Understand image formation at a plane mirror Understand how…
Vergence and refraction
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Explain what vergence and refraction are Explain how sign convention works, and be able to determine whether a distance…
Thick lenses
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Define what a ‘thick lens’ is, and calculate how to measure thickness Understand the relationship between thickness, curvature of…
Thin lenses
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Define ‘thin lens’ and apply the vergence equations from chapter 2 to thin lenses Determine linear magnification of an…
Basics of light and colour
Objectives After working through this chapter, you should be able to: Explain what light is in relation to the wave-particle duality Explain what the wavelength of light means in terms…
