Diffraction
Chapter Name : Wave Optics |
Sub Topic Code : 101_12_10_06_05 |
Topic Name : Diffraction |
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Sub Topic Name : The Validity Of Ray Optics |
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Introduction
Ray optics, describes light propagation in terms of
"rays"
Pre-Requisites:
Optics
Activity:
Surroundings.
Real Life Question:
What is Ray Optics?
Key Words / FlashCards
| Key Words | Definitions (pref. in our own words) |
|---|---|
| Ray Optics | In optics, a ray is an idealized narrow beam of light. |
Learning aids / Gadgets
| Gadgets | How it can be used |
|---|---|
| Kapitsa–Dirac effect | The Kapitsa–Dirac effect causes beams of particles to diffract as the result of meeting a standing wave of light. Light can be used to position matter using various phenomena. |
Real life uses :
To have better optics.
Places to visit :
Laboratory.
Practical examples around us
| Examples | Explainations |
|---|---|
| Rays | Ray theory does not describe phenomena such as interference and diffraction, which require wave theory. |
What you learn in Theory:
Rays are used to model the propagation of light through an optical system, by dividing the real light field up into discrete rays that can be computationally propagated through the system by the techniques of ray tracing.
What you learn in Practice:
A slightly more rigorous definition of a light ray follows from Fermat's principle, which states that the path taken between two points by a ray of light is the path that can be traversed in the least time.