Module: Light & Optics

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).

As such, this is a point in time view of data which will be refreshed periodically. Some fields/data may not yet be available pending the completion of the full Coursebuilder upgrade and integration project. We will post status updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Light & Optics
Module Code	PS102 (ITS) / PHY1018 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Physical Sciences
Module Co-ordinator	Gregory Hughes
Module Teachers	Eilish McLoughlin, Jennifer Gaughran, Karsten Fleischer, Paul Van Kampen, Robert O'Connor
NFQ level	6	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

This module provides a general introduction to the properties of light, geometrical optics, optical instruments, interference & diffraction.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain how electromagnetic waves are generated and how they propogate.
2. Describe the laws that govern the reflection and refraction of light.
3. Predict how images are formed by reflection in plane or cuved mirrors.
4. Predict how images are formed by an interface between two transparent materials.
5. Solve basic problems in geometrical optics.
6. Explain the physics behind how various optical instruments work.
7. Solve quantitative problems involving the concepts of interference and diffraction of light.
8. Explain the concepts of interference and diffraction of light.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Class based instruction
Tutorial	12	Discussion of conceptual and numerical problems
Online activity	24	Completion of pre-reading and homework assignments
Independent Study	65	Self directed study of concepts and practice of numerical problem solving
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Learning Activities
The online platform Mastering Physics provided by Pearson is used to help students prepare for each topic (textbook chapter) by completing assigned pre-reading and answering pre-lecture questions. All lectures include activities to promote student learning and engagement (e.g. explanation of concepts, working in small groups to solve conceptual or numerical problems, anonymous responses to multiple choice questions). Each week the students are assigned about 60 minutes of homework problems and exercises and at the end of each chapter they are assigned a Dynamic Study Assignment from Pearson ptatform.

Electromagnetic Waves
how electromagnetic waves are generated; how and why the speed of light is related to the fundamental constants of electricity and magnetism; how to describe the propagation of a sinusoidal electromagnetic wave; what determines the amount of energy and momentum carried by an electromagnetic wave; how to describe standing electromagnetic waves.

Nature & propagation of light
What light rays are and and how they are related to wave fronts; the laws that govern the reflection and refraction of light; the circumstances under which light is totally reflected at an interface; polarization of light; Dispersion & scattering of light.

Geometric optics
how a plane mirror forms an image, and why concave and convex mirrors form images of different kinds; how images can be formed by a curved interface between two transparent materials; what aspects of a lens determine the type of image that it produces; what causes various defects in human vision, and how they can be corrected; how microscopes and telescopes work.

Interference of Light
what happens when two waves combine, or interfere, in space; how to understand the interference pattern formed by the interference of two coherent light waves; how to calculate the intensity at various points in an interference pattern; how interference occurs when light reflects from the two surfaces of a thin film; how interference makes it possible to measure extremely small distances.

Diffraction of Light
how to calculate the intensity at various points in a single-slit diffraction pattern; what happens when coherent light shines on an array of narrow, closely spaced slits; how x-ray diffraction reveals the arrangement of atoms in a crystal; how diffraction sets limits on the smallest details that can be seen with an optical system.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	40%	Examination Weight	60%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Completion of online activity	Continuous Assessment 1 (week 6)	20%	Once per semester
Completion of online activity	Continuous Assessment 2 (week 9)	20%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Young & Freedman: 2020, University Physics with Modern Physics, 15, Chapters 33-36, Pearson,
0: Mastering Physics with Pearson eText -- Instant Access -- for University Physics with Modern Physics, 15, https://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/masteringphysics/, 263091
2019: College Physics: Explore and Apply, 2, Pearson, 263092
2007: The Physics of Everyday Phenomena - A conceptual introduction to Physics, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill,

Other Resources

55271, Online simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, 0, Phet simulations, https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/,