Introduction To Waves And Optics

* The rise of modern physics in the 17th and 18th centuries focused on mechanical interactions in the Universe, and the behavior of light. There turned out to be parallels between "mechanics" and "optics", water waves and sound waves being mechanical phenomena, and light proving to be a wave phenomenon. From that time, the two studies diverged, with an understanding of optics leading to ever-refined optical technologies. This document provides an introduction to waves and optics. It requires a knowledge of basic concepts in physics.

[1.0] Waves & Sound

• [1.1] WAVE MOTION / STANDING WAVES
  
• [1.2] ACOUSTICS & MUSICAL SOUND / SONAR
  
• [1.3] REFLECTION, REFRACTION, & DIFFRACTION / STANDING WAVES
  
• [1.4] THE DOPPLER SHIFT
  
• [1.5] WAVE INTERFERENCE
  
• [1.6] FOOTNOTE: MECHANICAL RESONANCE
  

[2.0] Light & Optics

• [2.1] THE DISCOVERY OF LIGHT / ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
  
• [2.2] THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
  
• [2.3] LIGHT EMISSION
  
• [2.4] BEHAVIOR OF LIGHT
  
• [2.5] THE EYE AND COLOR
  

[3.0] Optical Technology

• [3.1] PINHOLE CAMERAS, LENSES, THE EYE, & EYEGLASSES
  
• [3.2] MICROSCOPES, REFRACTING TELESCOPES, & CAMERAS
  
• [3.3] MIRRORS & REFLECTING TELESCOPES
  
• [3.4] RADIO, INFRARED, ULTRAVIOLET, & X-RAY TELESCOPES
  
• [3.5] FOOTNOTE: STEREO IMAGING SCHEMES
  
• [3.6] ENVOI: LIGHT & A NEW PHYSICS
  
• [3.7] COMMENTS, SOURCES, & REVISION HISTORY