Light Waves |
Discussion |
Streaming |
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Demo Page |
Slit Diffraction
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Interference between light waves coming from different slits will produce interference patterns imposed on the single slit diffraction pattern. The video starts with single slit, then shows double and triple slits. |
Real
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Mirrors: Plane and Not So Simple |
Discussion |
Streaming |
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Demo Page |
Flat Mirror; Blackboard Optics
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On a flat mirror, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. |
Real
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Real
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Concave Mirror; Blackboard Optics
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On a concave mirror, the light is reflected back through a focal point. |
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Convex Mirror; Blackboard Optics
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On a convex mirror, the light is reflected back through a perceived focal point situated behind the mirror. |
Real
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Concave Mirror, large
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Curved mirrors obviously distort the image. For a concave mirror, the image will appear right-side-up. |
Real
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Contraconcave Mirrors (Mirage)
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Two concave mirrors facing one another can be used to create a hologram. Perhaps this is how some people produce ghostly images? |
Real
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Real
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Refraction and Reflection |
Discussion |
Streaming |
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Demo Page |
Total Internal Reflection; Aquarium
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When light travels from a denser to a less dense medium, such as water to air, there is a critical angle of incidence beyond which the light will be total internally reflected at the internal surface of the water rather than refracted out into the air. |
Real
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Real
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Total Internal Reflection; Blackboard Optics
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When light travels from a denser to a less dense medium, such as plastic to air, there is a critical angle of incidence beyond which the light will be total internally reflected at the internal surface of the plastic rather than refracted out into the air. |
Real
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Real
MPG |
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Fiber Optics; Cable
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Fiber Optics work due to total internal reflection. A cable can even be tied in a knot and the light will still be emitted by the other end. |
Real
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Real
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Fiber Optics; Lucite Curl
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Fiber Optics work due to total internal reflection. A curl made of Lucite will still emit light at the other end. |
Real
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Real
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Lenses and Images |
Discussion |
Streaming |
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Demo Page |
Aquarium Optics
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An aquarium of dyed water shows how a convex lens produces a magnified image. |
Real
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Real
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Converging Lens; Blackboard Optics
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A converging (convex) lens focuses light through a focal point before creating a magnified image. |
Real
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Diverging Lens; Blackboard Optics
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A diverging (concave) lens defuses light. |
Real
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Disappearing Beaker
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Pyrex and Wesson oil have the same index of refraction. Thus, a small test tube filled with oil set into a larger container of oil will "disappear". |
Real
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Real
MPG |
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Thick Lens
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A thick lens shows great distortion around the edges. Notice that is the object is inside the len's focal length, the image is upright, but outside the focal length, the image is upside down and much larger. |
Real
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Dispersion and Color |
Discussion |
Streaming |
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Demo Page |
Diffraction grating
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Due to the small slits in a diffraction grating, light can be broken down into its constituent colors. For this source, there seems to be three distinct lines; a red/orange, a faint green and a faint blue. |
Real
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CD Diffraction
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The lines on a CD are close enough together to act as a diffraction grating and separate light into its constituent colors. |
Real
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