Optics

Zhanjuan Zhao
Ph.D
 wave optics
(wave property)
physical optics

quantum optics
optics (particle property)

geometrical optics
The extent to which ripples spread out depends on the
relationship between their wavelength and the width of the
gap.
In a, the width of the gap is very much greater than the
wavelength and there is hardly any noticeable diffraction.
In b, the width of the gap is greater than the wavelength
and there is limited diffraction.
In c, the gap width is approximately equal to the
wavelength and the diffraction effect is greatest.
 Chapter 10
Geometrical optics
Lens and eyes
Zhanjuan Zhao
Ph.D
• The chapter mainly introduced the basic
principles of geometrical optics and regularities
of image formation.
• Based on these, the dioptrics of human eyes,
image formations of fiber optics and endoscope
will also be studied.
 Introduction of geometrical optics
• In geometrical optics, the transmitting regularities of
light rays in transparent media and image formations
of objects are discussed with geometrical
methods .
• The theoretical fundamentals of geometrical optics
are :
• the law of light traveling straight;
• the law of light traveling independently;
• the law of reflection;
• the law of refraction.
• reflection

Reflection
 Geometric Optics
Q1. You can have a view of yourself if you look into

A. a mirror.
B. calm water surface.
C. a piece of shiny metal wall.
D. a piece of window glass.
 Geometric Optics
Q2. Now you look into a mirror and see the ima
ge of yourself.

A. In front of the mirror.

B. On the surface of the mirror.
C. Behind the mirror.
Laws of reflection
A ray of light bounces off a plane mirror.

This is an example of reflection of light.

Laws of reflection
useful words to describe the reflection of
light
incident ray norma
reflected ray
l

angle of incidence =
angle of reflection

angle of angle of r
incidenc eflection
e
 The incident ray, the reflected ray and the
normal all lie in the same plane.
Q3. The angle between the…………

 The angle between the incident ray and the

is called the angle of incidence.
 The laws of reflection state that it is equal to the
angle of .
Q4. The angle between an…….
The angle between an incident ray and the mirror is 20°

The angles of incidence and reflection are and

70°

The mirror turns the ray by .

Regular and diffuse reflection
Regular reflection

 on a flat , smooth surface

 e.g. mirror

Parallel incident rays Parallel reflected ra

ys
 Regular and diffuse reflection
Diffuse reflection

 on a rough, not
perfectly smooth
surface
 e.g. cover of a book

Parallel incident rays reflected rays in

different
directions
Direction of the normal varies from point to point
Q5: True or false: Reflection of. . . .

True or false: Reflection of light by a rough

surface does not obey the laws of reflection.
( T/F )
How a plane mirror forms an image

Properties of the image formed by a plane mirror

 behind the mirror

 of same size as the object
 Virtual
 laterally inverted
How a plane mirror forms an image

Rays from object o become Reflected rays appear to c

divergent after reflection. ome from I behind the mi
rror.
I is a virtual image.
-------Cannot be picked up on a screen
Geometric Optics
Q6 ： Scott says, ‘Your mirror image is smalle
r than yourself’. Do you agree?
A. Yes, the image is really smaller
B. No, your image and you are always of the sa
me size. It looks smaller just because it is far fr
om you.
C. No, it depends on how far you stand from th
e mirror.
D. Others: .
Laws of refraction
Examples of refraction of light

Bent chopstick

The chopstick appears bent because of refraction

Examples of refraction of light
shallower in water
• The depth that the object is actually at is
called the real depth.
Refraction of light

Refraction is the bending of light when the light

passes from one medium to another.
Refraction of light

Useful words to describe refraction of

light  angle of incidence
 angle of refraction
 the index of refraction
of the medium ( n )
 the index of refraction
of air is very close to
unity ;others medium n
is generally larger than
one
Refraction of light
From a less dense to a denser medium
e.g. from air to glass

Light is bent towards the normal.

Refraction of light
From a denser to a less dense medium
e.g. from water to air

Light is bent away from the

normal.
Refraction of light

Both angle of incidence and

angle of refraction are equal
to 0 °

When the light enters the medium vertically, the

transmission direction does not change.
Laws of refraction

Refraction of light as it enters different medium:

1. The incident ray, the refracted ray, and the
normal all lie in the same plane.
2. Refracted rays and incident rays are separated
on both sides of the normal
3. the law of refraction: Snell’s
law
c ni
ni sin  i  nt sin  t n
v nt

Snell, Dutch man 17th century

Question of Refraction

Q1: John says,“When hunting a fish under w

ater, you should aim your spear directly at th
e fish." Do you agree?
 Yes, of course.
 No, because the fish is actually
located somewhere else.
 No, because size of objects
changes when they are put
under water.
Question of Refraction

Q2: When sunlight falls on the water surface, w

hich of the following occur(s)?
 It is reflected back to the air.
 It refracts into the water.
 It is absorbed by water and t
urned into heat.
Question of Refraction
Q3. A boy shines a torch under…
A boy shines a torch under water as shown.
Which one shows the correct path of the light ray?

A. Path X
B. Path Y
C. Path Z
D. All of them
Laws of refraction

Q4. True or false: When light is.

True or false: When light is incident on a surf
ace along the normal, only refraction occurs; t
here is no reflection.
Total Internal Reflection
Total Internal Reflection
• TIR is the phenomenon which involves the reflection of all
• the incident light off the boundary.
• TIR takes place when both of the two conditions are met:
– the light is in a medium with a greater n and
approaching a medium with a smaller n.
– the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
• Critical angle:
n1 sin  c  n2 sin 90

n2
 sin  c 
n1
Experiments
 Example 1
• A ray of monochromatic light passes into a
glass block as shown.
• The refractive index of the glass for this light is
• A 0.57
• B 0.81
• C 1.22
• D 1.74
 Example 2
• A beam of light in air is incident upon the smooth
surface of a piece of flight glass, as shown.
• If the reflected beam and refracted beam are
perpendicular to each other, what is the index of
normal
refraction of the glass?
1
A Incident
2
beam
3 30 air
B
2
C 3 glass
D 2
 Optical Fibers
• An optical fiber is a thin fiber of glass or plastic that can
• carry light from one end to the other.
 Structure of Optical Fibers
• Generally optical fibers consist of three parts:

 Core:

 Cladding:

 Cover:

small n

large n
 Structure of Optical Fibers
Generally optical fibers consist of three parts:

 Core:
- a thin glass/plastic center
where the optical signals
travel.
- Relatively high refractive
index. small n

large n
 Structure of Optical Fibers
 Cladding:
small n
- Relatively low refractive
index.
large n
- TIR occurs at the core-
cladding interface.
- prevent the optical signals
from leaking out.

Cover:
- protects the fiber from
damage.
 Advantages of Optical Fibers
• Light can travel inside the core along the optical fiber as a
• result of successive TIR.
• No light escapes until it comes to the end of the fiber.
• Light can travel many kilometers without significant loss.
• There is no electrical interference.
 Medical application

• An image is transmitted by a bundle of fibers

that have fixed neighbors.
 Endoscopy
• Endoscopy, is the examination of internal body cavities using
a specialized medical instrument called an endoscope.
• An endoscope is a slender, flexible tube equipped with
• lenses and a light source.
• Illumination is done by the help of a number of optical fibers.
 Endoscope
• Light guide: carry light into a body cavity and illuminate
it.
• Image guide: sends back an image for viewing.
• Instrument channel:
– surgeons can manipulate tiny instruments, such as
– forceps, surgical scissors, and suction devices.
• Air pipe and water pipe:
– water and air is
– conducted to wash
– and dry the surgical
– site.
 Endoscope
• Using the endoscope, the doctor can see a magnified
• picture of internal organs of the body.
• If an ulcer is found, a biopsy can be done;
• The endoscope can inject drugs that allow clotting
• if the ulcer is bleeding.
• Surgery performed using an
• endoscope uses much smaller
• incisions.
– recovery is much faster!
Thank you!
 Geometric Optics
• We treat light as a collection of rays
– rays are straight paths along
– which light travels.
• Reflection of light on a surface:
i  r
– the law of reflection:
• Refraction of light as it enters
ni
• different medium:
nt
– the law of refraction: c
ni sin  i  nt sin  t n
v
Laws of refraction

incident ray normal angle of incidence

A N

air
O
water

angle of refraction
refracted ray
C
N`