A. Applications
Of the following applications, at least six should be covered. These applications can either be treated separately, or preferably integrated into other key concepts about light in Core Unit III. Throughout this Optional Unit on Optics, various opportunities will arise to introduce appropriate applications. This also has the potential of leading to independent learning activities by students.
It is difficult to foresee new developments and applications relating to light which are likely to arise in the future. As such new applications are developed through advances in science and technology, teachers should feel free to incorporate them into the following list.
The extent to which the concepts are developed through these applications are left to the discretion of the physics teacher. However, regardless of the extent to which these applications are developed, connections should be made which relate the applications to the behaviour of light and other important physical phenomena.
Furthermore, consideration of these or any other applications in physics should be treated with an emphasis which helps to develop the science, technology, society, and environment (STSE) thrust of the new curriculum. Whenever opportunities arise to develop STSE interrelationships (Dimension D), they should be pursued.
Treatment of the historical context of these applications and developments is encouraged, to put the study of physics into a social and historic framework. Students should also be aware that many outstanding achievements in science and other realms of human experience occurred when individuals deviated from accepted norms and practices, bound only by their imagination, often in spite of strong opposition and persecution.
The topics listed here summarize alphabetically major applications found in many Secondary Level physics resources. Other applications of light may be added to the list.
| animal vision apparent depth applications of light involving computers artificial light sources atmospheric effects binocular vision binoculars black body radiation cameras catadioptric lenses colour perception colour pigments colour temperature compound lenses contact lenses eclipses electron microscopes emission spectroscopy eproms fibre optics fluorescence fun-house mirrors gravity lenses holography illuminance image enhancing infrared light kaleidoscopes laser disks lasers light emitting diodes lidar (light detecting and ranging) light meters light microscopes light pressure lighting liquid crystal displays magnifiers |
one-way mirrors optical aberrations optical illusions optical instruments optical levers (i.e., Cavendish balance) optometry parabolic reflectors periscopes phosphorescence photoelasticity photoelectric cells photographic applications pinhole cameras plasma displays prism retroreflectors prisms projectors rainbows range finding rearview mirrors remote sensing resolution resolving power Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (S.E.T.I.) solar cells solar heating solar reflectors spectroscopy spotlights and search lights sun tanning telescopes television thin films, air wedges, and iridescence ultraviolet light video recording x-ray diffraction zoom lenses |