Basic Optics
Experiments that can be performed using various accessories from the Basic Optics System.
Grade Level: Advanced Placement • College • High School
Subject: Physics
Activities
01) Color Addition
In Part 1 of this experiment, you will discover the results of mixing red, green, and blue light in different combinations. In Part 2, you will compare the appearance of red, blue, and black ink illuminated by red and blue light.
02) Prism
The purpose of this experiment is to show how a prism separates white light into its component colors and to show that different colors are refracted at different angles through a prism.
03) Reflection
In this experiment, you will study how rays are reflected from different types of mirrors. You will measure the focal length and determine the radius of curvature of a concave mirror and a convex mirror.
04) Snell's Law
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the index of refraction of the acrylic trapezoid. For rays entering the trapezoid, you will measure the angles of incidence and refraction and use Snell’s Law to calculate the index of refraction.
05) Total Internal Reflection
In this experiment, you will determine the critical angle at which total internal reflection occurs in the acrylic trapezoid and confirm your result using Snell’s Law.
06) Convex and Concave Lenses
In this experiment, you will explore the difference between convex and concave lenses and determine their focal lengths.
07) Hollow Lens
In this experiment you will explore how the properties of a lens are related to its shape, its index of refraction, and the index of refraction of the surrounding medium.
08) Lensmaker's Equation
In this experiment you will determine the focal length of a concave lens in two ways: a) by direct measurement using ray tracing and b) by measuring the radius of curvature and using the lensmaker’s equation.
09) Apparent Depth
In this experiment, you will use two different methods to measure the apparent depth of the acrylic trapezoid. You will also determine the index of refraction of acrylic by comparing the apparent depth to the actual depth.
10) Reversibility
In Trial 1 of this experiment, you will determine the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction for light passing from air into a more optically dense medium (the acrylic of the D-shaped lens).
11) Dispersion
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the index of refraction of acrylic at two different wavelengths.
12) Focal Length and Magnification of a Thin Lens
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the focal length of a thin lens and to measure the magnification for a certain combination of object and image distances.
13) Focal Length and Magnification of a Concave Mirror
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the focal length of a concave mirror and to measure the magnification for a certain combination of object and image distances.
14) Virtual Images
In this experiment, you will study virtual images formed by a diverging lens and a convex mirror.
17) Shadows
The purpose of this experiment is to show the umbra (darker part) and the penumbra (lighter part) of the shadow.
