Physics 452 
Optics/Waves 

Spring 2008 


So you think the answers in the back of the book are wrong?
Syllabus
Announcements 
Last Updated 1/23/08 @ 3:20 p.m.
All course notes and lecture materials posted at this site are copyright 1998 - 2008 by Martin Hackworth. Access to PDF files is restricted. Contact me for the appropriate passwords. 
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The History of Light, Light and color, Atmospheric Optics, Grades S08 Textbook websites: directtextbook.com, textbookland.com, campusi.com
Course Schedule/Homework. Note: all homework is due by either the due date below or 1 week after the chapter over which it is assigned has been completed - which ever comes first.
Chapter 1 Write an essay (500 + words) on any historical figure in the development of the field of optics. You may cite any source(s) except Hecht/Williams. Submit via email with attached WORD document. Due January 29, 7:00 a.m.
Chapter 2 Notes: Chapter 2, Homework Due 2/5 by 9 a.m. 
Chapter 3 Notes: Chapter 3, Homework   Homework addenda: Please do problems 3.16 and 3.38 in Hecht. Due 2/12 by 9 a.m.
Chapter 4 Notes: Chapter 4, Homework: Problems 4.2, 4.7, 4.15, 4.38, 4.42, 4.52, 4.65, 4.75 Due 2/20 by 9 a.m.
Chapter 5 Notes: Chapter 5, Prisms and dispersion, Homework, Prism Problem, Due 3/6 by 9 a.m.
Chapter 6 Notes: Chapter 6, Homework (due 3/11). Create an Excel spreadsheet that will process a system consisting of two thin lenses for any combination of focal lengths, distance between the lenses, and object distance (due 4/1).
Chapter 7 Notes: Chapter 7, Homework (due 4/1)
Chapter 8 Notes: Chapter 8, Homework (due 4/1) Polarization animation links. An animation from iastate, a physlet from Gustavus, Jones Vectors, Jones Matricies
Chapter 9 Notes: Chapter 9, Homework (due 4/3)
Chapter 10 Notes: Chapter 10, Homework (due 4/3)
Chapter 11 Notes: Chapter 11
Chapter 13 Notes: Lasers

Demonstrations/Presentations (all papers due by 4/24)

Andrew Evans polarization 4/10 4/24
Andrew Harmon interference 4/10 4/24
Andrew Sayler color 4/10 4/24
Erik Graff refraction/dispersion 4/10 Metamaterials 4/29
Jacob Wright general diffraction 4/10 OLEDs taking low power displays to the next level 4/29
Jason Swansen spectroscopy 4/10 The Human Eye 4/29
Jordan Keough Young's double slit 4/10 5/1