References

Demonstrations in Optics

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References

Websites

Labs and Demonstrations

http://www.physics.umd.edu/deptinfo/facilities/lecdem/services/demos/mainindex.htm
The University of Maryland

This site has a comprehensive list of physics demonstrations for many areas. It gives a short description of the demonstration, equipment needed, and photographs.

http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/physics/bookedx.html
The University of California at Berkeley

There are a few diffraction experiments with diagrams.

http://hendrix.uoregon.edu/~demo/Demo/demo.html
University of Oregon

There are a few experiments with drawings of apparatus.

http://demoroom.physics.ncsu.edu/html/optics.html
North Carolina State University

It is a general page on optics demonstrations.

http://demoroom.physics.ncsu.edu/html/optics.html
University of Texas

It is a general page of demonstrations which includes pictures of the apparatus used.

http://www.wfu.edu/physics/demolabs/demos/avimov/videointro.htm
Wake Forest University

This website includes videos of many demonstrations in physics.

Information On Lasers

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserfaq.htm#faqtoc
Sam's Laser FAQ

Sam Goldwassar explains how different lasers work.

Print

General print on physics

Knight, R.D. (2008). Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, Second Edition. San Fransisco: Pearson Addison-Wesley.
Knight's textbook on general physics for physicists and engineers. It includes chapters on wave, particle, and quantum optics.

Print on optics

Rossing, T. D. (Ed)., and Chiaverina, C.J. (Ed). (2001). Teaching Light and Color. College Park, Marlyand: American Association of Physics Teachers
This describes the basic of science light and color. There is also a useful section in the front for references on every topic covered, including demonstrations in both print sources and websites.

Chagnon, Paul. (1995, February). Optics for People Stuck in Traffic. The Physics Teacher, 33, 112-115.
This is in Rossing and Chiaverina’s book Teaching Light and Color as well. It’s an interesting article on how light and reflection are used in lisence plates.

Walker, J. (1978, December). Moire effects, the kaleidoscope, and other Victorian Diversions. Scientific American. 239, 182-188.
This is an article in Rossing and Chiaverina’s book Teaching Light and Color. It explains how to build kaleidoscopes and stereoscopes (two pictures used to form one with depth). The science is explained.

Franklin, B. (1996). Teaching about Color and Color Vision: an AAPT/ATRA Manual. College Park, MD: American Association of Physics Teachers.
It’s a book of labs for high school students. There is some explanation of the topic in the beginning.

Ehrlich, B. (1990). Turning the World Inside Out. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
There are a few interesting things such as Chapter P which is on underwater optics and experiments on interference in chapter Q. On page 204 there is a demonstration which uses pinholes and a frosted light bulb.

Hecht, E. (1998). Optics (3rd Ed.). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
It has diagrams, math, and theories of light and related topics.

Print on Lasers

Feinberg, Weisshoff, Javan, Connes, Bloom, Smith, et al. (1969). Lasers and Light: Readings from Scientific American. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company.
It explains the science behind lasers including optical pumping in Chapter 5. Also explained are different uses for lasers including “Photon echos” and xray crystal holography.

Committee on Apparatus for Educational Institutions of the American Association of Physics Teachers. (1972, January). Apparatus for Teaching Physics. Washington, DC: Author.
Page 229 begins a section with a few interesting articles on lasers.

Print on Photographing Results

Gore, G. R. (1994, March). Diffraction photographs with a laser pointer. The Physics Teacher, 32, 174-175.
Gore explains a basic setup of Poisson's Spot and goes on to create diffraction patterns with several objects.

Dinkins, J., & Nicklin, R. C. (1974, May). Laser diffraction photography. The Physics Teacher, 295-296.
Dinkins & Nicklin explain a basic setup of Poisson's Spot and goes on to create diffraction patterns with several objects.

Print on Lab Activities and Demonstrations

Cunningham, J., and Herr, N. (1994). Hands-On Physics Activities with Real-Life Applications. West Nyack, NY: The Center for Applied Research in Education.
A book on classic experiments which include: single slit diffraction, polarization, and how to find focal length.

Sutton, R.M. (Ed). (1938). Demonstration Experiments in Physics. New York and London: The American Association of Physics Teachers.
There are various demonstrations including several about optics.

Demonstrations in Optics

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