INTRODUCTION TO PHOTONICS COURSE CALENDAR and CHECK LIST

FINAL CALENDAR WITH DATES AND PAGE NUMBERS WILL BE POSTED ON WEBCT AT THE END OF AUGUST

This page summarizes the course assignments. Print it out and check off assignments as they are completed.
For details of assignments, web sites and discussion questions , please see the weekly assignment folders.

UNIT

Date

Topic

Readings

Problems

Web sites: See weekly assignment

Hands on Activity

Discussion

Assessment

1

The nature of light- waves

ch. 2

ch 2 #3,4,5,6,14, 15, 16

Investigate wave parameters and the e/m spectrum

No hands on

Introduce yourself - see the first threaded discussion topic

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

2
 

The nature of light-photons

ch 2.

ch 2 #17, 24, 25, 27

Investigate the creation of a photon from atomic energy transitions

Spectra of light sources

What sources did you look at? How did the spectra differ for different sources?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

3

Rays, Reflection; Index of refraction

ch 4

ch 4 #13,14,15,16

The law of reflection

The "Disappearing Beaker"

Why does the beaker disappear? What other liquids would this work with?

-Optional self test

STATUS REPORT

4

Snell's Law

ch 4

ch 4 #17,19,20,21,23

Modeling refraction with Snell's law- how does angle depend on index of refraction?

Snell's Law

What is the index of refraction of Jello?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

5

Thin Lenses and Ray Tracing

Ch 5

ch 5 #4,6, 11 (do by ray tracing)

Ray tracing to predict real and virtual image location

Measuring lens focal length

What are the focal lengths of the two converging lenses?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

6

Imaging with Thin Lenses-Thin Lens Eqn.

ch 5

ch 5 #11 (by equation this time), 12, 13

What happens when a second lens is added?

Thin Lens Equation (Imaging)

What happens when part of the lens is covered?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

7

Waves and Interference

ch 6

ch 6 #2,15,32

What happens when one wave passes through another?

No hands-on required

TBD

 -Optional self test

STATUS REPORT

8

Two, three, thousands of slits

ch 6 pg

ch 6 #16,17,18, 19,20,21

How do the interference patterns depend on wavelength and slit spacing?

Diffraction Grating

What is the spacing of the "slits" of the grating?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

9

Diffraction

ch 6

ch 6 #3,27,29,31

See weekly assignment

Hair Diameter

What is the diameter of your hair?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

10

Polarization

Ch 7

ch 7 #3,7,14,16

See weekly assignment

Exploration of Polarization

Discuss the results of the experiment (see questions in lab write up)

-Optional self test

-Required quiz