Study Guide for Quiz 1
Study Guide for Quiz 2
Study Guide for Quiz 3 (The Final)
Goto Solutions for Chapters 1-2
Goto Solutions to Chapters 3-6
Goto Solutions for Chapters 7-12
A really rough example of how I might write scientifically
I start with a (short) rough draft and I show my the (short) final product.
Final Closure Questions (A discussion Activity)
The Entire Lab on the Web (A long download time. Sorry!)
Did you forget what one of the lab stations looked like? Pictures of the Lab Stations
Bradley Matson
Professor of Physics
Hokaar Project www.hokaar.org
email Dr. Matson
Office Hours: MWF 12:00, or by appointment
Text: Seeing the Light; Falk, Brill, Stork (Wiley)
Prerequisite: Working knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is encouraged.
Description: This laboratory-based course delves into the physics of light. Included in this broad topic are discussions of light waves, the human physiology of vision, and common technologies utilizing properties of light. Due to the fundamental nature of light and our perception of it, we devote a portion of the course to investigating relevant philosophy, human psychology, and art based on optics. Weekly laboratory exercises present concrete hands-on examples of optical phenomena. Four detailed laboratory reports are required allowing students to explore scientific writing -- especially as it relates to writing to non-scientests.
Content: Chapters 1-14 of the text are covered. Major topics include:
This course is meant to be a laboratory-based class with a writing intensive component. Hence, we will always focus on the laboratory exercises as a our major teaching tool. I will not be lecturing to you and then ask you to verify what I said, rather you will explore the physics and physiology of vision for yourself. The lectures are a time to make connections to commonplace observations, and clarify the laboratory activities, and explore beyond what is possible in the laboratory activities.
Writing intensive courses are described in the faculty guide as having a major portion of the course based on formal and informal writing assignments that comprise not less than 25% of the total grade. Our informal writing assignments are assigned in class and are collected as a packet a quiz time. Among other things, the guide indicates that the formal writing assignments should be written in the style of the discipline. It is very difficult to write in a scientific style and takes much practice. On our weekly reports, we will ease into the scientific writing style. As the weeks pass, I will try to guide you into the writing in the format and style of the scientific article.
Grading:
| Assessment | Possible Points | Percentage |
| Pre-Lab Exercises Assignments (10 @ 5 Each) | 50 | 5% |
| Lab Notes Checks (5 @ 10 Each) | 50 | 5% |
| Tzuris Station Assignments (10 @ 5 Each) | 50 | 5% |
| Four For Laboratory Reports (4 @ 100 Each) | 400 | 40% |
| All Mid-Term Quizzes (2 @ 150 Each) | 300 | 30% |
| Final Exam | 150 | 15% |
Policies:
| Date (week) | Topics | Reading for Next Lecture | Assignment | Lab Exercise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Apr (1) | Introduction and Orientation Fundamental Properties of Light | All Chapter 1, 2.1-2.4 | Chapter 1: P11, P12, PH5 | Lab 1: Waves, Wavelength, Frequency, & Colour, Spectra, & White light |
| 04 Apr | Shadows & Reflections | 2.5-2.6 | Chapter 2: P5, P7, PH3, P17, P25, PH12 | - |
| 09 Apr (2) | Refraction, Dispersion, Mirrors I | War and Peace | - | Lab 2: Waves - Ray Optics, Plane Reflection, Reflection from Spherical Mirrors Turn in Lab #2 FORMAL Lab Report I |
| 11 Apr | Mirrors II | 3.4-3.5 | - | - |
| 13 Apr | Lenses | 4.1-4.3 (4.4 optional) | Chapter 4: P1, P4, PH1, P6, P12, PH4 | - |
| 16 Apr (3) | Catch up | - | - | - |
| 18 Apr | Photography I - The camera | - | - | Lab 3: Effects of the Index of Refraction |
| 20 Apr | Photography II - The lens &c. | 4.7 | - | - |
| 23 Apr (4) | Photography III - The film | 5.1-5.2 | Chapter 5: P2, P11, PH1 | Lab 4: Image-Forming Optics & Optical Instruments
Turn in Lab #4 FORMAL Lab Report II |
| 25 Apr | Vision I - Anatomy of the Eye | 5.3 | - | - |
| 27 Apr | Quiz I (Chapters 1-3) | 4.5-4.6 | OPTIONAL PAPER PROPOSAL DUE | - |
| 30 Apr (5) | Optical Instruments | 7.1-7.4 | Chapter 7: P2, P18, PH5 | Lab 5: Image Aberrations & Photographic Optics: Exposing Film |
| 02 May | Vision III - Image Processing & Channel "Cross-talk" | 7.5,7.7 (7.6 & 7.8-7.9 optional) | FIRST DRAFT of OPTIONAL PAPER DUE | - |
| 04 May | Vision IV - Temporal Response of the Eye | 8.1-8.5 (up to anaglyphs) | Chapter 8: P3, P5, PH4 | - |
| 07 May (6) | Binocular Vision | 8.5 (from anaglyphs on), 8.6 (all) | - | Lab 6: Physiology of Vision & Photographic Film: Developing
Turn in Lab #6 FORMAL Lab Report III |
| 09 May | Seeing in 3-D | 9.1-9.4 (up to Chromaticity diagrams) | Chapter 9: P5, P7, PH3, P13, P21, PH6 | - |
| 11 May | Colour I | - | - | - |
| 14 May (7) | Quiz II (Chapters 4-8) | (rest of) 9.4, 9.5-9.7 (9.8-9.9 optional) | - | Lab 7: Photographic Printing |
| 16 MAy | Colour II | 10.1-10.5 | Chapter 10: P5, P9, PH5, P15, P16, PH8 | - |
| 18 May | Colour Vision I | 10.6-10.7 | SECOND DRAFT of OPTIONAL PAPER DUE | - |
| 21 May (8) | Colour Vision II | All Chapter 11 | Chapter 11: P1, P6, PH5 | Lab 8: Retinal Processing
Turn in Lab #8 FORMAL Lab Report IV |
| 23 May | Colour Photography | 12.1-12.2 (yes, skip 12.3-12.4) | Chapter 12: P1, P5, PH2 | - |
| 25 May | Wave Nature of Light (revisited) | 12.5, All of 13 | TBA | - |
| 28 May (9) -- Memorial Day --- No Classes | Polarization & Scattering | 14.1, first paragraph of 14.2, 14.3-14.4 | TBA | Lab 9: 3-D Vision |
| 30 May | Holography I | Webster's Dictionary | FINAL DRAFT of OPTIONAL PAPER DUE | - |
| 01 June | Holography II | - | - | - |
| 04 June (10) | - | - | - | Lab 10: Interference, Diffraction, & Holography |
| 06 June | - | - | - | - |
| 08 June | - | - | - | - |
| Finals Week | FINAL - Comprehensive (emphasis on Chapters 9-14) 13 June, Wednesday 8:00 |
- | - | - |
Why Work on a Project?
Projects and Project Papers
The project is intended to encourage everyone to choose a subject of interest, to read about it in the library, to thoroughly ponder it all means, and then to organize and formulate these thoughts in a written report. The project adds depth and variety to the course and provides an opportunity. History or Philosophy of a concept or theory (e.g., Newton's theory of light)
Connections between science and technology (e.g., history of optical biosensors)
Discussion of four "try it's".
Optical Physics and the environment (e.g., UV radiation and the ozone layer)
Coherent light and lasers OR Quantum physics and light
Art and light
Astronomy related issues (e.g., a telescope design and its limitations)
Solar energy (discuss a specific device/technology, its advantages and cons)
Optics in medicine (e.g., x-ray imaging, laser surgery, corrective lenses)
History and development of a specific optical instrument (e.g., the microscope)
Please try to select a project topic which you can relate to the course material. For example, if your project is a biographical portrait of a physicist, your paper should include a discussion of the meaning and significance of that person's scientific achievements. If your study is primarily historical, your presentation should include an explanation of the ideas or theories you are tracing.
After thinking about topics of interest, select one and write a brief "proposal," to be submitted to me during the third week of classes. The proposal should include your name, a proposed title, and a short paragraph (2 or 3 sentences) in which you describe the idea and the approach you would like to take. You should read the comments I write on your proposal before embarking on the project. If you wish to make a major change in your topic, please me consult again.
A draft of your project will be due during the fifth week of classes. This will give me a chance to evaluate your progress and make suggestions on how to improve your work. I will grade the draft, adding the grade to the final paper. The draft must contain all the elements of the final paper (see below).
Your report should begin with a title page containing the title, your name, the date submitted, and an abstract. The abstract is a short summary of the report, in 3 or 4 carefully composed sentences. The main body of the paper, which begins on the second page, should be double-spaced and typed using an easy-to-read 12 point font. At the end, give a list of the references you found most helpful during your reading.
The entire paper should contain 4,000 to 6,000 words, or about 12 to 18 pages. Remember, however, quality is more important than length. Use of a word processor can save effort and is strongly recommended. Equations, diagrams, and special symbols, if needed, may be written in by hand. Computers and software for word processing are available on campus.
This is a research paper. You will need to spend a minimum of 12 hours in the library finding and reading reference material. I expect you to use a minimum of 5 library references. Web site references are acceptable, but beware: there is as much misinformation on the web as there is scholarly reference material. When referencing a web site, be certain you give the web address. If there is a question about a reference, ask me. Appropriate library journals are Science, Scientific American, Nature, National Geographic, Astronomy, and Physics Today. If you have trouble understanding material, come visit or email me.
Submit two copies of your final paper; one will be returned to you before the end of classes, the other is for my records and will not be returned. These reports will be kept on file, so that they can be shared with future students.
Outstanding papers will receive the maximum score of 150 points, on the following basis:
Project final reports will be due during the last week of classes.