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The rods are good for night vision, peripheral vision, and motion changes, while the cones are responsible for central vision and color.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
We perceive many hues, from light having mixtures of wavelengths.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
A simplified theory of color vision states that there are three primary colors, which correspond to the three types of cones, and that various combinations of the primary colors produce all the hues.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The true color of an object is related to its relative absorption of various wavelengths of light. The color of a light source is related to the wavelengths it produces.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Color constancy is the ability of the eye-brain system to discern the true color of an object illuminated by various light sources.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The retinex theory of color vision explains color constancy by postulating the existence of three retinexes or image systems, associated with the three types of cones that are compared to obtain sophisticated information.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The microscope is a multiple-element system having more than a single lens or mirror.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Many optical devices contain more than a single lens or mirror. These are analysed by considering each element sequentially. The image formed by the first is the object for the second, and so on. The same ray tracing and thin lens techniques apply to each lens element.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The overall magnification of a multiple-element system is the product of the magnifications of its individual elements. For a two-element system with an objective and an eyepiece, this ism=mome,m=mome,wheremomois the magnification of the objective andmemeis the magnification of the eyepiece, such as for a microscope.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Microscopes are instruments for allowing us to see detail we would not be able to see with the unaided eye and consist of a range of components.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The eyepiece and objective contribute to the magnification. The numerical aperture(NA)(NA)of an objective is given byNA=nsinαNA=nsinαwherennis the refractive index andααthe angle of acceptance.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Immersion techniques are often used to improve the light gathering ability of microscopes. The specimen is illuminated by transmitted, scattered or reflected light though a condenser.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Thef/#f/#describes the light gathering ability of a lens. It is given byf/#=fD≈12NA.f/#=fD≈12NA.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Simple telescopes can be made with two lenses. They are used for viewing objects at large distances and utilize the entire range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The angular magnification M for a telescope is given byM=θ′θ=−fofe,M=θ′θ=−fofe,whereθθis the angle subtended by an object viewed by the unaided eye,θ′θ′is the angle subtended by a magnified image, andfofoandfefeare the focal lengths of the objective and the eyepiece.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Aberrations or image distortions can arise due to the finite thickness of optical instruments, imperfections in the optical components, and limitations on the ways in which the components are used.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The means for correcting aberrations range from better components to computational techniques.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
axis of a polarizing filter : the direction along which the filter passes the electric field of an EM wave
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
birefringent : crystals that split an unpolarized beam of light into two beams
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
Brewster’s angle : θb=tan−1n2n1,θb=tan−1n2n1,wheren2n2is the index of refraction of the medium from which the light is reflected andn1n1is the index of refraction of the medium in which the reflected light travels
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
Brewster’s law : tanθb=n2n1tanθb=n2n1, wheren1n1is the medium in which the incident and reflected light travel andn2n2is the index of refraction of the medium that forms the interface that reflects the light
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
coherent : waves are in phase or have a definite phase relationship
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
confocal microscopes : microscopes that use the extended focal region to obtain three-dimensional images rather than two-dimensional images
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
constructive interference for a diffraction grating : occurs when the conditiondsinθ=mλ(form=0,1,–1,2,–2,…)dsinθ=mλ(form=0,1,–1,2,–2,…)is satisfied, whereddis the distance between slits in the grating,λλis the wavelength of light, andmmis the order of the maximum
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
constructive interference for a double slit : the path length difference must be an integral multiple of the wavelength
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
contrast : the difference in intensity between objects and the background on which they are observed
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
destructive interference for a double slit : the path length difference must be a half-integral multiple of the wavelength
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
destructive interference for a single slit : occurs whenDsinθ=mλ,(form=1,–1,2,–2,3,…)Dsinθ=mλ,(form=1,–1,2,–2,3,…), whereDDis the slit width,λλis the light’s wavelength,θθis the angle relative to the original direction of the light, andmmis the order of the minimum
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
diffraction : the bending of a wave around the edges of an opening or an obstacle
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
diffraction grating : a large number of evenly spaced parallel slits
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
direction of polarization : the direction parallel to the electric field for EM waves
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
horizontally polarized : the oscillations are in a horizontal plane
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
Huygens’s principle : every point on a wavefront is a source of wavelets that spread out in the forward direction at the same speed as the wave itself. The new wavefront is a line tangent to all of the wavelets
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
incoherent : waves have random phase relationships
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
interference microscopes : microscopes that enhance contrast between objects and background by superimposing a reference beam of light upon the light emerging from the sample
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
optically active : substances that rotate the plane of polarization of light passing through them
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
order : the integermmused in the equations for constructive and destructive interference for a double slit
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
phase-contrast microscope : microscope utilizing wave interference and differences in phases to enhance contrast
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
polarization : the attribute that wave oscillations have a definite direction relative to the direction of propagation of the wave
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
polarization microscope : microscope that enhances contrast by utilizing a wave characteristic of light, useful for objects that are optically active
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
polarized : waves having the electric and magnetic field oscillations in a definite direction
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
Rayleigh criterion : two images are just resolvable when the center of the diffraction pattern of one is directly over the first minimum of the diffraction pattern of the other
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
reflected light that is completely polarized : light reflected at the angle of reflectionθbθb, known as Brewster’s angle
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
thin film interference : interference between light reflected from different surfaces of a thin film
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
ultraviolet (UV) microscopes : microscopes constructed with special lenses that transmit UV rays and utilize photographic or electronic techniques to record images
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
unpolarized : waves that are randomly polarized
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
vertically polarized : the oscillations are in a vertical plane
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
wavelength in a medium : λn=λ/nλn=λ/n, whereλλis the wavelength in vacuum, andnnis the index of refraction of the medium
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-glossary
Wave optics is the branch of optics that must be used when light interacts with small objects or whenever the wave characteristics of light are considered.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Wave characteristics are those associated with interference and diffraction.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Visible light is the type of electromagnetic wave to which our eyes respond and has a wavelength in the range of 380 to 760 nm.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Like all EM waves, the following relationship is valid in vacuum:c=fλc=fλ, wherec=3×108m/sc=3×108m/sis the speed of light,ffis the frequency of the electromagnetic wave, andλλis its wavelength in vacuum.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
The wavelengthλnλnof light in a medium with index of refractionnnisλn=λ/nλn=λ/n. Its frequency is the same as in vacuum.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
An accurate technique for determining how and where waves propagate is given by Huygens’s principle: Every point on a wavefront is a source of wavelets that spread out in the forward direction at the same speed as the wave itself. The new wavefront is a line tangent to all of the wavelets.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Diffraction is the bending of a wave around the edges of an opening or other obstacle.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Young’s double slit experiment gave definitive proof of the wave character of light.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
An interference pattern is obtained by the superposition of light from two slits.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
There is constructive interference whendsinθ=mλ(form=0,1,−1,2,−2,…)dsinθ=mλ(form=0,1,−1,2,−2,…), whereddis the distance between the slits,θθis the angle relative to the incident direction, andmmis the order of the interference.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
There is destructive interference whendsinθ=m+12λ(form=0,1,−1,2,−2,…)dsinθ=m+12λ(form=0,1,−1,2,−2,…).
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
A diffraction grating is a large collection of evenly spaced parallel slits that produces an interference pattern similar to but sharper than that of a double slit.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
There is constructive interference for a diffraction grating whendsinθ=mλ(form=0,1,–1,2,–2,…)dsinθ=mλ(form=0,1,–1,2,–2,…), whereddis the distance between slits in the grating,λλis the wavelength of light, andmmis the order of the maximum.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
A single slit produces an interference pattern characterized by a broad central maximum with narrower and dimmer maxima to the sides.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
There is destructive interference for a single slit whenDsinθ=mλ,(form=1,–1,2,–2,3,…)Dsinθ=mλ,(form=1,–1,2,–2,3,…), whereDDis the slit width,λλis the light’s wavelength,θθis the angle relative to the original direction of the light, andmmis the order of the minimum. Note that there is nom=0m=0mini...
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Diffraction limits resolution.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
For a circular aperture, lens, or mirror, the Rayleigh criterion states that two images are just resolvable when the center of the diffraction pattern of one is directly over the first minimum of the diffraction pattern of the other.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
This occurs for two point objects separated by the angleθ=1.22λDθ=1.22λD, whereλλis the wavelength of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) andDDis the diameter of the aperture, lens, mirror, etc. This equation also gives the angular spreading of a source of light having a diameterDD.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Thin film interference occurs between the light reflected from the top and bottom surfaces of a film. In addition to the path length difference, there can be a phase change.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
When light reflects from a medium having an index of refraction greater than that of the medium in which it is traveling, a180º180ºphase change (or aλ/2λ/2shift) occurs.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Polarization is the attribute that wave oscillations have a definite direction relative to the direction of propagation of the wave.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
EM waves are transverse waves that may be polarized.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
The direction of polarization is defined to be the direction parallel to the electric field of the EM wave.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Unpolarized light is composed of many rays having random polarization directions.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Light can be polarized by passing it through a polarizing filter or other polarizing material. The intensityIIof polarized light after passing through a polarizing filter isI=I0cos2θ,I=I0cos2θ,whereI0I0is the original intensity andθθis the angle between the direction of polarization and the axis of the filter.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Polarization is also produced by reflection.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Brewster’s law states that reflected light will be completely polarized at the angle of reflectionθbθb, known as Brewster’s angle, given by a statement known as Brewster’s law:tanθb=n2n1tanθb=n2n1, wheren1n1is the medium in which the incident and reflected light travel andn2n2is the index of refraction of the...
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
Polarization can also be produced by scattering.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
There are a number of types of optically active substances that rotate the direction of polarization of light passing through them.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
To improve microscope images, various techniques utilizing the wave characteristics of light have been developed. Many of these enhance contrast with interference effects.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/27-section-summary
classical velocity addition : the method of adding velocities whenv<<cv<<c; velocities add like regular numbers in one-dimensional motion:u=v+u′u=v+u′, wherevvis the velocity between two observers,uuis the velocity of an object relative to one observer, andu′u′is the velocity relative to the other observer
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
first postulate of special relativity : the idea that the laws of physics are the same and can be stated in their simplest form in all inertial frames of reference
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
inertial frame of reference : a reference frame in which a body at rest remains at rest and a body in motion moves at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted on by an outside force
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
length contraction : LL, the shortening of the measured length of an object moving relative to the observer’s frame:L=L01−v2c2=L0γL=L01−v2c2=L0γ
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
Michelson-Morley experiment : an investigation performed in 1887 that proved that the speed of light in a vacuum is the same in all frames of reference from which it is viewed
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
proper length : L0L0; the distance between two points measured by an observer who is at rest relative to both of the points; Earth-bound observers measure proper length when measuring the distance between two points that are stationary relative to the Earth
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
proper time : Δt0Δt0. the time measured by an observer at rest relative to the event being observed:Δt=Δt01−v2c2=γΔt0Δt=Δt01−v2c2=γΔt0, whereγ=11−v2c2γ=11−v2c2
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
relativistic Doppler effects : a change in wavelength of radiation that is moving relative to the observer; the wavelength of the radiation is longer (called a red shift) than that emitted by the source when the source moves away from the observer and shorter (called a blue shift) when the source moves toward the obser...
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
relativistic kinetic energy : the kinetic energy of an object moving at relativistic speeds:KErel=γ−1mc2KErel=γ−1mc2, whereγ=11−v2c2γ=11−v2c2
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
relativistic momentum : pp, the momentum of an object moving at relativistic velocity;p=γmup=γmu, wheremmis the rest mass of the object,uuis its velocity relative to an observer, and the relativistic factorγ=11−u2c2γ=11−u2c2
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
relativistic velocity addition : the method of adding velocities of an object moving at a relativistic speed:u=v+u′1+vu′c2u=v+u′1+vu′c2, wherevvis the relative velocity between two observers,uuis the velocity of an object relative to one observer, andu′u′is the velocity relative to the other observer
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
relativity : the study of how different observers measure the same event
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
rest energy : the energy stored in an object at rest:E0=mc2E0=mc2
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
rest mass : the mass of an object as measured by a person at rest relative to the object
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
second postulate of special relativity : the idea that the speed of lightccis a constant, independent of the source
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
special relativity : the theory that, in an inertial frame of reference, the motion of an object is relative to the frame from which it is viewed or measured
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
time dilation : the phenomenon of time passing slower to an observer who is moving relative to another observer
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
total energy : defined asE=γmc2E=γmc2, whereγ=11−v2c2γ=11−v2c2
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
twin paradox : this asks why a twin traveling at a relativistic speed away and then back towards the Earth ages less than the Earth-bound twin. The premise to the paradox is faulty because the traveling twin is accelerating, and special relativity does not apply to accelerating frames of reference
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-glossary
Relativity is the study of how different observers measure the same event.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-section-summary
Modern relativity is divided into two parts. Special relativity deals with observers who are in uniform (unaccelerated) motion, whereas general relativity includes accelerated relative motion and gravity. Modern relativity is correct in all circumstances and, in the limit of low velocity and weak gravitation, gives the...
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-section-summary
An inertial frame of reference is a reference frame in which a body at rest remains at rest and a body in motion moves at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted on by an outside force.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/28-section-summary