Optics
Optics is the branch of physics that deals with the study of light and its behavior. It encompasses the study of the generation, propagation, and interaction of light with various materials and devices. Optics explores the properties of light, such as its reflection, refraction, dispersion, diffraction, polarization, and the formation of images by lenses and mirrors.
There are two main branches of optics:
- Geometric optics: It describes the behavior of light using rays and focuses on the principles of reflection, refraction, and the formation of images by mirrors and lenses. Geometric optics is concerned with how light travels and behaves when interacting with surfaces and interfaces but doesn't consider the wave nature of light.
- Physical optics: Also known as wave optics, it examines the wave-like properties of light and how it interacts with matter. This branch deals with phenomena like interference, diffraction, polarization, and coherence, considering light as an electromagnetic wave.
Optics has extensive applications in various fields such as microscopy, astronomy, telecommunications, photography, laser technology, fiber optics, and the development of optical instruments like microscopes, telescopes, cameras, and lasers. It plays a crucial role in both scientific research and practical technological advancements.
Parent Categories
Optics Calculators and Collections
- Angles of Reflection and Refraction Calculator
- Bragg's Law
- EM Waves at the Interface of two Insulators
- Gaussian Beam Calculator
- LM 32.0 Wave optics Collection
- LM 32.1 Diffraction Collection
- LM 32.2 Scaling of diffraction Collection
- LM 32.3 The correspondence principle Collection
- LM 32.4 Huygens' principle Collection
- LM 32.5 Double-slit diffraction Collection
- LM 32.6 Repetition Collection
- LM 32.7 Single-slit diffraction Collection
- LM 32.8 The principle of least time Collection
- LM 32.9 Summary Collection
- La Ley de Bragg
- Lens Maker's Equation Calculator
Optics Equations
- Abbe number Use Equation
- Acceptance Angle in Optical FIber Use Equation
- Angle of Incidence - Snell's Law Use Equation
- Angle of Transmission - Snell's Law Use Equation
- Brewster's Angle Use Equation
- Brewster's Angle Use Equation
- Coefficient of Finesse Use Equation
- Critical Angle Use Equation
- Diffraction Grating Use Equation
- F-stop Use Equation
- Forced Perspective Use Equation
- Full-Angular Width Use Equation
- Gaussian Beam Half-Width Use Equation
- Gaussian Beam Waist Use Equation
- Hemicylinder Optics Lab Use Equation
- Index of Refraction Use Equation
- Index of Refraction of a Lens Use Equation
- Index of Refraction of a Material Surrounding a Lens Use Equation
- Law of Reflection Use Equation
- Lens Maker's Equation (solved for ) Use Equation
- Lensmaker's Equation Use Equation
- Malus' Law Use Equation
- Phase retardation in birefringent material Use Equation
- Radius of Curvature of a Lens away from Light Source Use Equation
- Radius of Curvature of a Lens toward Light Source Use Equation
- Rayleigh Range Use Equation
- Sellmeier Equation Use Equation
- Snell's Law (solved for ) Use Equation
- Snell's Law (solved for ) Use Equation
- for EM waves (in an insulator) Use Equation
- for EM waves (in an insulator) Use Equation
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