The Department of Physics

Course Description

This course builds on the fundamentals of oscillations, waves and optics. In this course, students will meet thick lenses and use mathematical techniques such as matrix methods to simplify calculations involved in determining the focal point of a system of lenses. Together with aberration theory, lenses and matrix theory form the optics component of this course and will provide the basics of analyzing real situations such as optics of the eye. The second component of the course, Oscillations and Waves, builds on simple harmonic motion introduced at Level 1 by considering the influence of friction and imposed forces on oscillatory motion. Students will also make use of complex exponentials to simplify the equations of motion related to oscillatory motion. Through in-class discussions, and problem solving sessions, Students would have an opportunity to improve their ability to reason through challenging situations in the physical Universe using basic principles to develop appropriate solutions. Assessment and evaluation is done in the form of in-course tests and a Final examination.

CONTENT

This course will focus on the following:

Optics: Thin lens Imaging. Review of laws of reflection & refraction, Huygen's Principle, Fermat's Principle, Image by an optical system, Sign Convention, Reflection at a spherical surface, Refraction at a spherical interface, Refraction by a thin lens - Lensmaker formula. Vergence and Refracting Power, Newtonian Equation for a thin lens; Matrix Methods, Cardinal point and cardinal planes of optical systems, Matrix method (2x2) in Paraxial Optics for complex optical systems (thin lens). Development of the following matrices: translation, reflection, thick lens, thin lens, system ray transfer; Significance of system matrix elements. Location of cardinal points for an optical system & Worked examples. Aberration Theory: Qualitative and semi-quantitative descriptions of and methods used to reduce the following: Chromatic aberration, spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, curvature of field and distortion. 

Oscillations and Waves: Periodic motion - SHM, rotating vector representation, rotating vectors and complex numbers, complex exponentials. Decay of free vibrations, effects of very large damping, overdamping, underdamping, critical damping. Forced vibrations and resonance, complex exponential method for forced oscillations. Forced oscillations with damping; transient phenomena; power absorbed by a driven oscillator; examples of resonance. Progressive waves

GOALS/AIMS

To enable students to develop quantitative and analytical skills to solve problems related to geometrical optics and vibratory systems.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After successfully completing this course, students should be able to:

• Analyze optical systems
• Apply the matrix method to optical systems
• Analyze vibrations of physical systems
• Apply complex exponential method to systems with vibrations

Assessment