Light, Color and Vision (3 units). Explore optical technology and phenomena, including color and vision, light in art and nature, lasers, telescopes, cameras and fiber optics. This course, designed for non-science majors, will feature demonstrations and hands-on learning with only basic math.

Instructor Information:
Dr. Mike Nofziger (a.k.a. Dr. Mike)
Meinel, Room 412A | 626-8363
Office Hours: T/Th 1pm-3pm; other times by appointment – email first.
Email: nofziger@optics.arizona.edu
Website: http://www.optics.arizona.edu/nofziger/

Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

- have a good understanding of what light is.

- learn about through lab experiments the various light sources. {LAB}

- understand how lasers work.

- understand how optical images (real and virtual) are formed. {LAB}

- understand the reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light. {LAB}

- be able to make calculations that describe the images formed by lenses and mirrors.

- be able to trace rays of light that describe the images formed by lenses and mirrors.

- understand the optics of the human eye. {LAB}

- understand why we need to wear eyeglasses or contacts to correct vision.

- have an understanding of what the LASIK procedure is and does.

- understand how various optical instruments work (telescopes, binoculars, DVD players).

- understand the optics and processes of photography.

- be able to explain how a digital camera works.

- have a fundamental understanding of color (additive and subtractive).

- be able to explain how rainbows are formed.

- have been introduced to the world of infrared optics. {LAB}

- be able to apply the basic technology of optics in own careers!

Required Textbooks:

Falk, Brill & Stork (1986). Seeing the Light: Optics in Nature, Photography, Color Vision and Holography (Hardcover, 480 pages). John Wiley & Sons Inc. ISBN: 0471603856

Wolfe, William L. (2007). Optics Made Clear: The nature of light and how we use it (Paperback, 264 pages). SPIE Press. ISBN: 0819463078

Available for purchase at the University of Arizona Bookstores

Required or Special Materials

Notebook or binder for lab and activity notes

Calculator

Graph Paper, Free online at: Print Free Graph Paper and Incompetech

Grading Policy

30% Homework
20% Lab: Notebook and Activities
25% Research Paper:

15% Rough Draft
10% Final Draft

10% Midterm (in-class)
10% Final Exam (in-class)
05% Unannounced Quizzes

Final grades will be calculated on a 'curve' for the entire class.
Late work policy: Homework will be accepted late (up to a week after it was due), but will be graded at 50% off.