Chapter 35: Geometric Optics

Review Basic Geometry!

 Ray Approximation
• The rays are straight
lines perpendicular to
the wave fronts
• With the ray
approximation, we
assume that a wave
moving through a
medium travels in a
straight line in the
direction of its rays
 Light Rays: Ignore Diffraction and
Interference of waves!
Diffraction depends on SLIT WIDTH: the smaller the width,
relative to wavelength, the more bending and diffraction.
We will assume that λ<<d , where d is the diameter of the opening.
This approximation is good for the study of mirrors, lenses, prisms, etc.
Reflection & Refraction

n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ 2
θi = θ r
 Following the Reflected and
Refracted Rays
•Ray  is the
incident ray.
•Ray  is the
reflected ray.
•Ray  is refracted
into the lucite.
•Ray  is internally
reflected in the lucite.
•Ray  is refracted as
it enters the air from
the lucite. Section 35.5
 Law of Reflection
• The normal is a line
perpendicular to the
surface
– It is at the point where the
incident ray strikes the
surface
• The incident ray makes an
angle of θ1 with the
normal
• The reflected ray makes
an angle of θ1’ with the
normal
 Specular
Reflection
• Specular reflection is
reflection from a
smooth surface
• The reflected rays are
parallel to each other
• All reflection in this
text is assumed to be
specular
 Diffuse
Reflection
• Diffuse reflection is
reflection from a rough
surface
• The reflected rays travel in
a variety of directions
• A surface behaves as a
smooth surface as long as
the surface variations are
much smaller than the
wavelength of the light
Law of Reflection

θi = θ r
 Why are most materials Opaque?
(Opaque – Can’t see through)

They absorb light without re-emitting it. Vibrations given

by the light to their atoms and molecules are turned into
random kinetic energy – they become slightly warmer.
 Opacity: Mirrors
Free electrons in opaque reflective surfaces
can vibrate, absorb & re-emit at any frequency.
 How many times will the incident beam
shown be reflected by each of the parallel
mirrors?
 Refraction:
Bending Light into Focus
Refraction: Bending of Light
Transmitted through Materials
Light Bends because it Slows Down.
Atoms are Optical Tuning Forks
Light slows down as it travels through
glass because it takes time to be
absorbed and re-emitted.
Light Slows Down in Materials
Light Bends Toward the Normal when going from a
medium of lower refractive index to one that has a
higher refractive index and visa versa.

lower n

higher n
Index of Refraction
c
n=
v

n ≥1
Vacuum: 1
Water: 1.33
Glass: 1.46
Diamond: 2.4
 The Index of Refraction
• Refraction: Light Bends in
Transmission
• The speed of light in any
material is less than its speed
in vacuum
• The index of refraction, n,
of a medium can be defined
as •
For a vacuum, n = 1
speed of light in a vacuum c λ – We assume n = 1 for air
n≡ = = also
speed of light in a medium v λn
• For other media, n > 1
λ  λ in vacuum  • n is a dimensionless number
n=   greater than unity, not
λn  λ in a medium  necessarily an integer
Some Indices of Refraction
 Frequency Doesn’t Change!
• As light travels from one
medium to another, its
frequency does not
change
– Both the wave speed and
the wavelength do change
– The wavefronts do not
pile up, nor are created or
destroyed at the
boundary, so ƒ must stay
the same
Snell’s Law of Refraction
Angles are always measured from the normal.

n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ 2
 Snell’s Law – Example
Light is refracted into a crown glass
slab. n1 = 1.00 and n2 = 1.52

If θ1 = 30.0o, θ2 = ?

θ2 = sin-1(n1 / n2) sin θ1 = 19.2o

The ray bends toward the normal,

as expected because n2 > n1
PreLab #30
 Snell’s Law of Refraction
In general:

n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ 2
n1θ1 ≈ n2θ 2
n1
θ 2 ≈ θ1
n2
If n2 > n1 , then θ1 > θ 2
measured from the normal!
 Study Example 35.4 Carefully!
Emerging Beam is Parallel to Incident Beam but
offset distance d, called the Lateral Shift and is the
subject of next week’s lab!

Fig. 35-15, p. 989

 Following the Reflected and
Refracted Rays
•Ray  is the
incident ray.
•Ray  is the
reflected ray.
•Ray  is refracted
into the lucite.
•Ray  is internally
reflected in the lucite.
•Ray  is refracted as
it enters the air from
the lucite. Section 35.5
Beam & Refraction Directions
• Possible directions of the
beam are indicated by rays
numbered 1 through 5
• The refracted rays are bent
away from the normal since
n1 > n2
Total Internal Reflection
θ 2 = 90 

n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ 2
n2
sin θ C = The Critical Angle
n1
 Critical Angle
• There is a particular angle
of incidence that will
result in an angle of
refraction of 90°
– This angle of incidence is
called the critical angle, θC

n2
=
sin θC (for n1 > n2 )
n1
• An application of internal Fiber Optics
reflection
• Plastic or glass rods are used to
“pipe” light from one place to
another
• Applications include:
– medical use of fiber optic
cables for diagnosis and
correction of medical problems
– Telecommunications
• A flexible light pipe is called an
optical fiber
• A bundle of parallel fibers
(shown) can be used to construct
an optical transmission line
 Critical Angle Sample Problem
A ray of light, emitted by a laser located beneath the surface of an
unknown liquid with air above it, undergoes total internal
refection as shown. What is the index of refraction for the liquid?
What is its likely identification?
Prelab Problem # 35
If you pass white light through a prism,
it separates into its component colors.

long wavelengths short wavelengths

R.O.Y. G. B.I.V
The index of refraction depends on
WAVELENGTH.

long wavelengths short wavelengths

R.O.Y. G. B.I.V
The speed and wavelength change but
the FREQUENCY does NOT.
Fr
Frequency depends on the oscillating source!

long wavelengths short wavelengths

R.O.Y. G. B.I.V
 Why does Violet Light bend more
than Red Light?
Violet light slows down more because the atoms in the material
are tuned to higher frequencies. As the violet light travels
through glass it takes more time to be absorbed and re-emitted.
Variation of Index of Refraction with Wavelength
speed of light in a vacuum c λ
n≡ = =
speed of light in a medium v λn

• This dependence of n on λ
is called dispersion
• The index of refraction for
a material generally
decreases with increasing
wavelength
• Violet light bends more
than red light when passing
into a refracting material
 Refraction in a Prism

•Since all the colors have

different angles of deviation,
white light will spread out
into a spectrum.
– Violet deviates the
most.
– Red deviates the least.
– The remaining colors
are in between.

Section 35.7
END
 Dispersion via Diffraction

d sin θ m=
constructive : = λ , m 0,1, 2,3
If you pass white light through a prism,
it separates into its component colors.

long wavelengths short wavelengths

R.O.Y. G. B.I.V
The index of refraction depends on
WAVELENGTH.

long wavelengths short wavelengths

R.O.Y. G. B.I.V
The speed and wavelength change but
the FREQUENCY does NOT.
Fr
Frequency depends on the oscillating source!

long wavelengths short wavelengths

R.O.Y. G. B.I.V
 Why does Violet Light bend more
than Red Light?
Violet light slows down more because the atoms in the material
are tuned to higher frequencies. As the violet light travels
through glass it takes more time to be absorbed and re-emitted.
Variation of Index of Refraction with Wavelength
speed of light in a vacuum c λ
n≡ = =
speed of light in a medium v λn

• This dependence of n on λ
is called dispersion
• The index of refraction for
a material generally
decreases with increasing
wavelength
• Violet light bends more
than red light when passing
into a refracting material
 Angle of Deviation
• Since all the colors
have different angles
of deviation, white
light will spread out
into a spectrum
– Violet deviates the most
– Red deviates the least
– The remaining colors are
in between
 Dispersion Sample Problem
The index of refraction for
violet light in silica flint glass
is 1.66, and that for red light is
1.62. What is the angular
dispersion of visible light
passing through a prism of
apex angle 60.0° if the angle of
incidence is 50.0°? red (660
nm) violet (410 nm)

Use Snell’s Law twice and some

geometry! Angles are always n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ 2
measured from the normal.
How are Rainbows Formed?
Dispersion: Raindrops Act like Prisms
• A ray of light strikes a drop
of water in the atmosphere
• It undergoes both reflection
and refraction
– First refraction at the
front of the drop
• Violet light will
deviate the most
• Red light will deviate
the least
 The Rainbow
• At the back surface the light is
reflected
• It is refracted again as it
returns to the front surface and
moves into the air
• The rays leave the drop at
various angles
– The angle between the white
light and the most intense violet
ray is 40°
– The angle between the white
light and the most intense red ray
is 42°
Observing the Rainbow

• If a raindrop high in the sky is observed, the red ray is seen

• A drop lower in the sky would direct violet light to the
observer
• The other colors of the spectra lie in between the red and
the violet
The droplets form a circular arc, with each droplet within the arc
dispersing light and reflecting it back towards the observer with
the greatest concentration of outgoing rays found at these 40-42
degree angles of deviation. Every droplet within the arc is
refracting and dispersing the entire visible light spectrum
(ROYGBIV).
Rainbow facts
• an observer is in a position to see only a single color from any
one droplet of water.
• your rainbow is slightly different from the rainbow seen by
others
• your rainbow moves with you
• disk within the bow is brighter because of overlapping of
multiple refractions (which don’t occur outside the disk)
A line drawn from your eye to the top of the rainbow forms a 42-
degree angle with the imaginary line from the sun through your
eye. (If there is a secondary rainbow, it forms an angle of 51-
degrees). Because these angles determine the position of the
rainbow in the sky, it will sink as the sun rises and rise as the sun
sinks. At some points, the entire rainbow, not just the bottom half,
will be below the horizon where you can't see it. That's why you'll
never see a summer rainbow at midday.
 Double Rainbow

• The secondary rainbow is

fainter than the primary
• The secondary rainbow
arises from light that
makes two reflections
from the interior surface
before exiting the raindrop
• Higher-order rainbows are
possible, but their
intensity is low
• Halos are caused by the light of the sun or moon passing through a very thin layer of
cirruform (ice-crystal) clouds in the upper atmosphere. The ice crystals refract the light
of the moon, similar to the way water droplets in the lower atmosphere can refract
sunlight to produce a rainbow. Just like a rainbow, strong halos can have bands of color
in them, due to slightly different refractive properties of the ice crystals for different
colors. Essentially, halos ARE rainbows caused by primary refraction in ice crystals.
• Some interesting facts about halos: Halos always occur exactly 22 degrees away from
the sun or moon. Occasionally, intense halos can be double halos, just as intense
rainbows can be doubled. Intense halos can also produce "moondogs" or "sundogs,"
very bright regions on the halo evenly spaced at 90 degree intervals around the halo.
 Physics Fun on an Airplane
Always sit on the side opposite the
sun when traveling north-south!!
Thin Film Interference
If you pass white light through a prism,
it separates into its component colors.

long wavelengths short wavelengths

R.O.Y. G. B.I.V

spectrum
Radiation of Visible Sunlight
Additive Primary Colors
Red, Green, Blue
RGB Color Theory
 Additive Complementary Colors
Yellow, Cyan, Magenta
The color you have to add to get white light.

Red + Green = Yellow

Blue + Green = Cyan
Red + Blue = Magenta

Red + Blue + Green = White

White light – red light = ??

White light – yellow light = ??
 FYI: Mixing Colored Pigments
Subtractive Colors
Pigments subtract colors from white light.

Yellow + Cyan = Green

Cyan + Magenta = Purple

Yellow + Magenta = Red

Yellow + Cyan + Magenta = Black

Why are some materials colored?
 Why is a Rose Red?

Colored materials absorb certain colors that

resonate with their electron energy levels and
reject & reflect those that do not.
 Why is the Ocean Cyan?

White light minus cyan is red. Ocean water absorbs red.

Shine cyan light on a red rose and
what color do you see?
Shine cyan light on a red rose and
what color do you see?
 Interference in Thin Films
When reflecting off a medium of greater refractive index, a
light wave undergoes a phase shift of ½ a wavelength.
Wave 1 undergoes a phase shift of 180 degrees.
From Low to High,
a phase change of
pi!
From High to Low,
a phase change?
NO!
 Interference in Thin Films
• The wavelength of ray 1 in the
film is λ/n
• For constructive interference

2t = (m + ½) λ/n (m = 0, 1, 2 …)

This takes into account both the

difference in optical path length for
the two rays and the 180° phase
change
• For destructive interference

2t = mλ/n (m = 0, 1, 2 …)
 Problem: Thin Films
A thin film of gasoline floats on a puddle
of water. Sunlight falls almost
perpendicularly on the film and reflects
into your eyes a yellow hue. Interference
in the the thin gasoline film has eliminated
blue (469nm in vacuum) from the
reflected light. The refractive indices of
the blue light in gasoline and water are
1.40 and 1.33 respectively.
Determine the minimum nonzero
thickness of the film.
What color do you see?
 Thin Film Interference
The light reflected from a soap bubble
(n = 1.40) appears red (λ = 640 nm). What is
the minimum thickness (in nm)?
a. 124
b.104
c. 114
d.134
e. 234
 Galileo

In the early 17th century, many scientists believed that there was no
such thing as the "speed of light"; they thought light could travel any
distance in no time at all. Galileo disagreed, and he came up with an
experiment to measure light's velocity: he and his assistant each took
a shuttered lantern, and they stood on hilltops one mile apart. Galileo
flashed his lantern, and the assistant was supposed to open the shutter
to his own lantern as soon as he saw Galileo's light. Galileo would
then time how long it took before he saw the light from the other
hilltop. The problem was that the speed of light is simply too fast to
be measured this way; light takes such a short time (about 0.000005
seconds, in fact) to travel one mile that there's no way the interval
could have been measured using the tools Galileo had.
 The Speed of Light?
• 186,000 miles per second
• 300,000 kilometers per second
• 3 x 108 m/s
• first successfully determined by
Danish astronomer Ole Roemer in
1675: 2.3 x 108 m/s
• First Terrestrial Measurement by
Fizeau in 1849: 2.9979 x 108 m/s
• In 1926, Michelson used a rotating
prism to measure the time it took
light to make a round trip from
Mount Wilson to Mount San
Antonio in California, a distance
of about 22 miles (36 km). The
precise measurements yielded a
speed of 186,285 miles per second
(299,796 kilometres per second).
 Huygens’s Principle
Construction for a Plane Wave
• Huygens assumed that light is a form
of wave motion rather than a stream of
particles
• All points on a given wave front are
taken as point sources for the
production of spherical secondary
waves, called wavelets, which
propagate outward through a medium
with speeds characteristic of waves in
that medium
• After some time has passed, the new
position of the wave front is the
surface tangent to the wavelets
 Huygens’s Construction for a
Spherical Wave
• The inner arc represents
part of the spherical wave
• The points are
representative points
where wavelets are
propagated
• The new wavefront is
tangent at each point to
the wavelet
 Huygens’s Principle Prove the
Laws of Reflection & Refraction
Huygens’s Principle and the Law of
Reflection

• Triangle ABC is congruent

to triangle ADC
• cos γ = BC / AC
• cos γ’ = AD / AC
• Therefore, cos γ = cos γ’
and γ = γ’
• This gives θ1 = θ1’
• This is the law of
reflection
Huygens’s Principle and the Law
of Refraction
• Ray 1 strikes the
surface and at a time
interval Δt later, ray 2
strikes the surface
• During this time
interval, the wave at A
sends out a wavelet,
centered at A, toward
D
 Huygens’s Principle and the Law of
Refraction
• The wave at B sends out a
wavelet, centered at B, toward C
• The two wavelets travel in
different media, therefore their
radii are different
• From triangles ABC and ADC,
we find
BC v1∆t AD v 2 ∆t
sin=
θ1 = and sin=
θ2 =
AC AC AC AC
sin ÷1 v1 c n1 n2
= = =
sin ÷2 v 2 c n2 n1
n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2