INTRODUCTION TO PHOTONICS COURSE SAMPLE CALENDAR and CHECK LIST
This is an example of a course calendar. Note that there are 10 units (content may change slightly), required quizzes and status reports. Most units center around a hands-on activity that you do at home. Discussions of lab outcomes are required.
The nature
of light- waves ch. 2 ch 2 #3,4,5,6,14, 15,
16 Investigate wave parameters
and the e/m spectrum No hands on Introduce yourself - see the
first threaded discussion topic -Optional self test
-Required quiz The nature
of light-photons ch 2. ch 2 #17, 24, 25,
27 Investigate the creation of
a photon from atomic energy transitions Spectra of light
sources What sources did you look
at? How did the spectra differ for different
sources? -Optional self test
-Required
quiz Rays,
Reflection; Index of refraction ch 4 ch 4 #13,14,15,16 The law of
reflection The "Disappearing
Beaker" Why does the beaker
disappear? What other liquids would this work
with? -Optional self test
STATUS
REPORT Snell's
Law ch 4 ch 4
#17,19,20,21,23 Modeling refraction with
Snell's law- how does angle depend on index of
refraction? Snell's Law What is the index of
refraction of Jello? -Optional self test
-Required quiz Thin Lenses
and Ray Tracing Ch 5 ch 5 #4,6, 11 (do by ray
tracing) Ray tracing to predict real
and virtual image location Measuring lens focal
length What are the focal lengths
of the two converging lenses? -Optional self test
-Required quiz Imaging with
Thin Lenses-Thin Lens Eqn. ch 5 ch 5 #11 (by equation this
time), 12, 13 What happens when a second
lens is added? Thin Lens Equation
(Imaging) What happens when part of
the lens is covered? -Optional self test
-Required quiz Waves and
Interference ch 6 ch 6 #2,15,32 What happens when one wave
passes through another? No hands-on
required TBD -Optional self test
STATUS REPORT Two, three,
thousands of slits ch 6 pg ch 6 #16,17,18,
19,20,21 How do the interference
patterns depend on wavelength and slit spacing? Diffraction
Grating What is the spacing of the
"slits" of the grating? -Optional self test
-Required quiz Diffraction ch 6 ch 6 #3,27,29,31 See weekly
assignment Hair Diameter What is the diameter of your
hair? -Optional self test
-Required quiz Polarization Ch 7 ch 7 #3,7,14,16 See weekly
assignment Exploration of
Polarization Discuss the results of the
experiment (see questions in lab write up) -Optional self test
-Required quiz
UNIT