Catalog
Description
|
The electromagnetic
theory of light. Interference, diffraction, resolving power of instruments,
polarimetry, dispersion, absorption, scattering and reflection and an introduction
to the theory of quantum radiation. |
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Credits
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4 semester hours
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Course
Objectives
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To provide physics and engineering students with a strong background
in optics. |
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Topics
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Properties of light, prisms, lenses, mirrors, optical instruments,
wave theory, interference, Fraunhofer diffraction, Fresnel diffraction,
speed of light, dispersion, polarization. |
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Prerequisite
|
PHY 120 - Physics
II |
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Instructor
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John J. Lynch, Ph.D.
Office: 110 Donahue
Hall
Office Phone: (304)
243-2287
Home Phone: (304)
292-6987
Cell Phone: (304)
376-6987
E-mail Address:
jlynch
wju.edu
Office Hours: <see schedule>
|
Required
Items
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Fundamentals
of Optics, Frances A. Jenkins and Harvey E. White, 4th ed.
a mathematical handbook, a
scientific pocket calculator, a protractor, a compass, and a ruler. |
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Lectures
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Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday from 2:00 to 2:50 and Tuesday from 12:30 to 1:20 in 106 Donahue
Hall. |
Weekly
Homework
Assignments
|
Homework assignments
will be e-mailed to students one week before they are due. Homework will
be collected at the beginning of Wednesday's class. Students are encouraged
to visit, phone, or e-mail the instructor with any questions regarding the
homework assignments. Students are also encouraged to discuss the homework
assignments with other students. The two lowest homework scores will be
discarded.
Homework solutions
will be available online. |
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Exams
|
Four 50-minute exams will be held on the following days:
Exam 1: Monday, February 7th
Exam 2: Monday, March 7th
Exam 3: Monday, April 11th
Exam 4: <Finals Week>
The final exam will be purely comprehensive and held according to the finals
week schedule. All exams are closed-book. Students may use both sides
of a 3"x5" index card on which they have jotted down formulas, laws, definitions,
constants, etc. On subsequent exams they may use the index cards prepared
for the previous exam(s). All four index cards are allowed on the final exam.
Students may use a scientific pocket calculator but they may not share their
calculator or their index cards.
|
|
Attendance
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Students are expected to attend all lectures and recitations.
Good class attendance is highly correlated with good grades. It is the responsibility
of a student to inform the professor of the cause of any absence in advance.
If the cause of the absence occurs suddenly, a student must inform the professor
as soon as possible.
Freshmen and upperclassmen on academic probation are permitted no more
than two absences for each credit hour. |
|
Workload
|
Students are expected
to spend an average of two hours in study and preparation for every hour
of class. |
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Grading
|
The following weights
will be used in determining students' numerical scores:
40%
Homework
42%
Four 50-minute Exams
18%
Final Comprehensive Exam
The two lowest of
the four 50-minute exams scores will carry a weight of 7% each while the other
two will carry a weight of 14% each.
After the second exam, an addendum to this syllabus will be made available
showing students how to convert numerical grades into letter grades.
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Academic
Integrity
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Plagiarism or cheating
makes a student liable for an F for the course. Students should refer to
the Student Handbook for a complete description on academic integrity. |
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ADA
|
If a student has a disability and anticipates needing any type
of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise the
instructor. |