Physics Lab: Electromagnetic Wave Properties
Name___________________
Use the following website:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/index.html to complete this lab.
1. Select Electromagnetic Radiation on the Light and Color page.
2. Define electromagnetic radiation:
3. Electromagnetic Radiation is also known as ______________________energy.
4. Which two laws did the theories of Christian Huygens explain?
5. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Electromagnetic Radiation.
6. Observe the effects on the electromagnetic wave by adjusting the amplitude and
wavelength.
7. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Basic Electromagnetic Wave Properties.
8. Make adjustments to frequency, wavelength, and amplitude while observing the wave
characteristics.
9. What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?
10. Return to the Light and Color page.
11. Select Light: Particle or Wave?
12. Explain the duality of light.
13. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Particle and Wave Reflection.
14. Adjust the particle/wave slider to help visualize the dual nature of light waves.
15. Return to the Light and Color page.
16. Select Reflection of Light.
17. Define reflection:
18. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Reflection of Light.
19. Observe the effects on reflecting waves by adjusting the wavelength and incident
angle.
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20. What does the Law of Reflection state?
21. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Specular and Diffuse Reflection.
22. Define specular reflection:
23. Define diffuse reflection:
24. Use the tutorial to change surface roughnesses and observe.
25. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Concave Spherical Mirrors.
26. Use the tutorial to observe how changing object positions affects image positions.
27. Where should the object be placed in order to produce a real image of the same size
as the object?
28. What region must the object be placed in to produce a real image that is smaller than
the object?
29. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Convex Spherical Mirrors.
30. Use the tutorial to observe how changing object positions affects image positions.
31. What region must the object be placed in to produce a virtual image of the object?
32. Describe a common application for a convex mirror.
33. Return to the Light and Color page.
34. Select Refraction of Light.
35. Define refraction:
36. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Refraction of Light.
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37. Observe the effects of changing wavelength, incident angle, and material on the
refraction of light.
38. Which material causes the largest change in direction for monochromatic red light?
39. What is the formula for the index of refraction?
40. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select The Critical Angle of Reflection.
41. Adjust the material to crown glass (n=1.52).
42. Adjust the wavelength to 700nm.
43. What is the critical angle for this setup? _____________
44. What happens if incident waves exceed this critical angle?
45. What are three words used to describe this effect?
46. Return to the Light and Color page.
47. Select Diffraction of Light.
48. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Diffraction of Light.
49. Use the tutorial to explore how changing aperture as well as wavelength can affect
diffraction of light waves.
50. Return to the Light and Color page.
51. Select Polarization of Light.
52. Define polarization.
53. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Polarization of Light.
54. Observe the effects of changing the angles of the polarizers being used on the light
waves.
55. Return to the Light and Color page.
56. Select Fundamentals of Interference.
57. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Wave Interactions in Optical Interference.
58. Use the tutorial to make adjustments for wavelength, phase, and amplitude for the
two interfering waves. Note corresponding changes in the resultant waves.
59. Scroll down to Interference between Coincident Light Waves and note superposition
results for constructive and destructive interference.
60. Return to the Light and Color page.
61. Select Introduction to Lenses and Geometrical Optics.
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62. Define lens:
63. Under Interactive Java Tutorial, select Image Formation with Converging Lenses.
64. Use the tutorial to observe the relationship between object position and image
position for a bi-convex lens.
65. Is it possible to create a virtual image using only a bi-convex lens? YES / NO
66. If yes, in what region should the object be placed?
67. Convex lenses are primarily used for two purposes. They are:
68. Under Interactive Java Tutorial select Image Formation With Diverging Lenses.
69. Use the tutorial to observe the relationship between object position and image
position for a bi-concave lens.
70. What is another term used to describe a bi-concave lens?
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