2. Contents:
1. Optics
2. Radiometry
3. Photometry
4. Theories about Light
5. Terms related to Radiometry
6. Terms related to Photometry
7. Laws of Illumination
8. Principle of Superposition
9. Wave Property of Particles
10. Wave Particle Duality
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3. OPTICS
Branch of Physics where nature and property of light are studied.
The scientific study of sight and the behaviour of light, or the properties of transmission
and deflection of other forms of radiation.
Classified into
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Geometrical Optics
Rectilinear
Propagation of
Light
Physical Optics
Wave Nature of
Light
Quantum Optics
Particle Nature of
Light
4. Radiometry & Photometry
Radiometry: Measurement of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light. Radiometric
techniques in optics characterize the distribution of the radiation's power in space.
Photometry: Measurement of light, in terms of its perceived brightness to the human eye.
Photopic Vision: Response of eyes under normal light conditions (555 nm).
Scotopic Vision: Response of eyes under low light conditions (507 nm).
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5. Different Theories about Light
Corpuscular Theory of Light
Newton proposed this theory that treats light as being composed of tiny
particles having no mass and high speed. Failed to explain refraction.
Wave Theory of Light
Huygens proposed light as waves that spread out from the source that
generates the light. Each colour is a different wavelength. Supernumerary
bows are explained by assuming that light is a wave. Failed to explain
propagation in vacuum and existence of aether medium.
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6. Different Theories about Light
The Electromagnetic Theory of Light
Maxwell proposed light as electromagnetic waves. Propagation in vacuum
explained.
Quantum (Photon) Theory of Light
Light is energy particle named photon. The energy of the photon
determines the colour.
Dual Theory of Light
Light behaves both as a particle and as a wave.
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7. Terms related to Radiometry
Radiant Energy
Radiant Flux
Radiant Intensity
Radiance
Radiant Sterance
Emittance
Radiant Excitance
Irradiance
Radiant Incidence
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8. Terms related to Photometry
Point Source
Solid Angle
Lumen
Luminous Intensity
Illumination
Luminance
Luminous Excitance
Luminous Sterance
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9. Laws of Illumination
Inverse Square Law
Intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.
𝐸 =
𝐼
𝑟2
Lambert’s Cosine Law
Radiant intensity or luminous intensity directly proportional to the cosine of the angle θ
between the direction of the incident light and the surface normal.
𝐸 =
𝐼𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑟2
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10. Principle of Superposition
For all linear systems, the net response at a given place and time caused by two or
more stimuli is the sum of the responses which would have been caused by each
stimulus individually.
The resultant displacement of two simultaneous waves (blue and green) is the
algebraic sum of the two displacements.
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Constructive Interference Destructive Interference
The superposition of two coherent light waves results in light and dark fringes on a screen.
11. Wave Property of Particles
De Broglie Wave
A moving body behaves in ways as if it has a wave nature.
The momentum of particle of mass “m” and velocity “v” is
𝑝 = 𝛾𝑚𝑣
And its de Broglie wavelength is
𝜆 =
ℎ
𝛾𝑚𝑣
Every elementary particle or quantic entity may be partly described in terms not only of
particles, but also of waves. It expresses the inability of the classical concepts "particle" or
"wave" to fully describe the behaviour of quantum-scale objects.
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