Wave Optics

Wave Optics

The branch of physics dealing with the study of optical phenomena is called optics. This can be divided into two categories, ray optics and wave optics. Wave optics describes the connection between waves and rays of light. The wave theory of light was put forth by Huygen and later modified by Frensel. In this unit we come across the various phenomena related to the wave nature of light.

Here is an example which will help us understand the motion of waves in a simple form.

One of the simplest examples of how Waves are created is when we will drop a small pebble in a pool of water,the moment the pebble will fall in water it creates ripples and hence it disturbes the stagnant position of water.

Let us learn some Types of waves:

Transverse Waves:

A transverse wave is a type of mechanical wave. They travel in a straight line and carry energy and momentum through medium particles from one point to another.

Longitudinal Waves:

A wave motion in which the particles of the medium oscillate about their mean positions in the direction of propagation of the wave, is called longitudinal wave.

Hope you like the above example of Wave Optics.
Please leave your comments, if you have any doubts.

Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

Ray Optics is a very commonly heard term,as it is related to light which is a very important part of our daily life.Optics is the branch of physics which studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it.Ray optics is also called geometrical optics as it uses the geometry of straight-line paths (rays) to explain the optical phenomena. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light.Ray optics, infact, is the limiting case of wave optics. This means for most practical purposes, we can ignore the deviation from straight-line path as postulated by wave theory.

Optical Instruments: Let us learn about some of the optical Instruments
The first thing that comes to our mind when we say "Optical instruments" is a pair of spectacles.......but it is not true they are other types of optical instruments too,let us learn about the formation of various types of images by a lens for different positions of the object.

Microscopes:

A microscope is an optical device which produces a highly magnified image of very small object such as micro-organisms. Based on the design, there are two types of microscopes. They are, simple microscope and compound microscopes.
Simple Microscope

A simple microscope is nothing but a single biconvex lens. It is referred to as magnifying glass.
Compound Microscope

A compound microscope is an optical instrument which is used to magnify very small objects like blood cells, bacteria which otherwise cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Telescopes

Telescope is an optical instrument which is used for viewing heavenly bodies and distant objects.
Astronomical Telescope

This type of telescope is used to view heavenly bodies like stars, planets and satellites.

We might also come across questions such as:Which instrument is used to measure temperature??

The answer would be a "Thermometer". These are some basic examples of Optical Instruments.


Hope you like the above example of Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Please leave your comments, if you have any doubts.