Optics Cheat Sheet

Geometric Optics
Reflection
:
:

angle of incidence
angle of reflection
The plane determined by the incident and
reflected rays is perpendicular to the surface.

Snells law (refraction)

:
:
c1 , c2 :
n1 , n2 :

angle of incidence
angle of refraction
speed of light in materials 1 and 2
refractive indexes in materials 1 and 2
The plane determined by the incident and
refracted rays is perpendicular to the surface.

Critical angle of total internal reflection

Refraction on a plane parallel plate
d:
D:
:
:

the distance by which the incoming ray is

shifted
the width of the plate
angle of incidence
angle of refraction

c1
n2
sin
=
=
sin
c2
n1

sin c =

n2
n1

sin ( )
cos
s
1 sin2
=D
n2 sin2

d=D

Object-image relation for thin lenses

s:
s0 :
f:

object distance
image distance
focal length of the lens

Magnification of thin lenses

Lensmakers equation for thin lenses
R1 , R2 : radii of curvature of the two sides of the lens

Compound lenses
f:
equivalent focal length of the lenses
fi :
focal lengths of the individual lenses
The lenses touch.
Definition of lens diopter

1
1
1
+ 0 =
s s
f
s0
M =
s


1
1
1

= (n 1)
f
R1 R2
1
1
1
=
+
+ ...
f
f1 f2
D=

1
f [meter]