PHY385 Module 1: Waves and Optics Kit

  Activity 1.1 – The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Please make a table in your notebook to order the following forms of electromagnetic radiation from shortest to longest wavelength, and, for each, list:

 Column 1: name

 Column 2: Typical wavelength

 Column 3: Typical photon energy

 Column 4: Briefly mention of one or two applications, properties or concerns.

• Gamma Rays
• Infrared Radiation
• Microwaves
• Radio Waves
• Ultraviolet
• X-rays
• Visible Light

 

   Activity 1.2 – Is it a wave?

Hecht (edition 5) Problem 2.38 .  [Note: ask yourself: “Do these solve the differential wave equation?”  - if you are stuck, the answer is in the back of the book!]

 

   Activity 1.3 – Is it a travelling wave?

Hecht (edition 5) Problem 2.39 .  Identify travelling waves

 

   Activity 1.4 – Identifying Items in the Introductory Optics Kit

You have a box called an “Introductory Optics Kit” from PASCO.  It has 21 kinds of items in it, which are pictured in the drawings on the next 2 pages.  Each drawing has a letter.  Below is a list of 21 descriptions.  In your notebook, please make a table of Column 1: number, in order, and Column 2: corresponding letter.  For example, if you think the letter O is the color filters described in number 1, then the first row in your table should be: 1. O. 

#	Name of component or components in drawing
1	Color Filters (×3): Red, Green and Blue/Green
2	Component Holders (×3)
3	Crossed Arrow Target
4	Cylindrical Lens
5	Diffraction Grating
6	Diffraction Plate
7	Diffraction Scale
8	Incandescent Light Source
9	Lenses (×3): 75, 150 and -150 mm focal lengths, Spherical Mirror: 50 mm focal length
10	Optics Bench
11	Parallel Ray Lens
12	Polarizers (×2)
13	Ray Optics Mirror
14	Ray Table
15	Ray Table Base
16	Ray Table Component Holder
17	Slit Mask (with one rectangular opening)
18	Slit Plate (with multiple slits)
19	Variable Aperture
20	Viewing Screen
21	Virtual Image Locators (×2)

 

 

 

   Activity 1.5

In preparation ...