PHYS1002 Optics Assignment Due: 5pm Friday 17 May

Hand in: BOTH staple your answers to this sheet and put in PHYS1002 slot outside rm. 6-320; and scan and upload
to Blackboard.
I declare that this work is entirely my own, except where stated otherwise.
Name: _____________________ Student Number: ______________ Lab stream: ________

An international study investigating student learning in optics would like to analyse the work that you submit for
this assignment. If you are willing to allow this, please sign below.

I understand that I am being asked to allow my assignment answers to be included in a data set to investigate
student understanding of optics.
I give my permission for the information gathered as a result of my participation in this study to be used in
publications, providing confidentiality is maintained.
I understand that there is no foreseeable risk associated with being involved in the study, above the risks of
everyday living. I understand that I will not receive any payment for participation.
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I agree to participate in this study.
Signature: _____________________ Date: ______________________

This assignment is based on questions given in past exams. It will be marked by your tutor according to the below
rubric, identical to the exam marking rubric. The mark for each question will be an average over the three categories
of Approach, Execution and Reasoning; and the overall mark will be the sum of the marks for each question.
Marking Rubric:
Approach Execution Reasoning
7 Identifies and correctly applies all relevant Calculations are concise and correct, with Clear and correct explanations of all
physical principles. Uses a logical and clear only inconsequential minor technical errors. main steps. Insightful critical analysis or
problem solving strategy. Excellent use of Full correct use of significant figures and discussion of the results.
figures to frame the problem. units.

6 Identifies and applies all relevant physical Calculations are generally correct except for Clear and correct explanations of most
principles. Uses a mostly correct solving a small number of minor errors. Correct use main steps. Substantial critical analysis
strategy. Use of figures to frame the problem. of significant figures and units in most of the main results. Some insight is
instances apparent.

5 Identifies all physical principles. Correctly uses Calculations are mostly correct, but a number Correctly explains reasons for most
problem-solving techniques. Use of figures to of errors are apparent. Minor mistakes with steps. Some critical analysis, such as
illustrate the problem significant figures or units. checking units or order of magnitude.

4 Identifies the majority of relevant physical A number of mistakes made in calculations, Correct explanations of essential points.
principles. Uses some problem solving but still with a majority correct. A few errors Some routine reasoning and some
techniques and basic figures. with significant figures or units. evidence of going beyond “formula
fitting”.

3 Identifies some relevant physical principles but Most results are incorrect. Abuse of Few written explanations. Possibility that
makes little progress on the problem. significant figures or units. formulae are being used randomly.

2 Identifies mostly irrelevant physical principles Few meaningful calculations or results. Little Little reasoning or explanation is given.
and makes little progress on the problem. appropriate use of significant figures or units.

1 Identifies no relevant physics and makes no Very few meaningful calculations. Little No reasoning or explanation is given.
impact on the problem. appropriate use of units or significant figures

Overall grade: /14 Signed: _______________

Question 1.

Graded on a 1-7 scale

Question (i)a
An opaque mask with a circular hole (diameter = 1.0 cm) is placed between two
small lightbulbs and a screen. Two bright discs are seen on the screen, as shown at
right.
The diameter of the hole is gradually decreased. Do the lit areas on the screen due to each
bulb always remain distinct (i.e., non-overlapping)?
Choose the best option:
A. They always remain distinct.
B. They begin to overlap.
C. There is not enough information.

Question (i)b
Explain the reasoning you used to obtain your answer to the preceding question. In
particular, if you chose "there is not enough information", please specify what
additional information is needed.

Question (ii)a
For the following question, the two lightbulbs are turned off. A single laser (λ = 633 nm) is turned on. It is located
halfway between the two unlit bulbs. The diameter of the laser beam is 2.0 cm, which is wider than the hole in the
mask. The diameter of the laser beam does not change as the beam travels from the laser to the mask.
Which of the figures below shows the pattern on the screen due to the laser and the 1.0 cm hole?
Choose the best option:
A. Figure 1
B. Figure 2
C. Figure 3
D. None of these figures shows the appearance of the screen.

Figure 1: Disc Figure 2: Disc Figure 3: Disc

with sharp edges with fuzzy with fuzzy
border and border
rings

Question (ii)b
Explain the reasoning you used to obtain your answer to the preceding question.

Question (ii)c
How does the diameter of the pattern on the screen compare to the diameter of the hole in the mask (1.0 cm)?
Note: If you chose figure 2, use the diameter of the central bright region to characterize the pattern.
Choose the best option:
A. The diameter of the pattern is greater than that of the hole.
B. The diameter of the pattern is less than that of the hole.
 C. The diameter of the pattern is equal to that of the hole.

Question (iii)a
Suppose the diameter of the hole in the mask is 0.010 mm. Which of the figures below shows the pattern on the
screen due to the laser and the 0.010 mm hole?
Choose the best option:
A. Figure 1
B. Figure 2
C. Figure 3
D. None of these figures shows the appearance of the screen.

Figure 1: Disc Figure 2: Disc Figure 3: Disc

with sharp edges with fuzzy with fuzzy
border and border
rings

Question (iii)b
Explain the reasoning you used to obtain your answer to the preceding question.

Question (iii)c
How does the diameter of the pattern on the screen compare to the diameter of the hole in the mask (0.010 mm)?
Note: If you chose figure 2, use the diameter of the central bright region to characterize the pattern.
Choose the best option:
A. The diameter of the pattern is greater than that of the hole.
B. The diameter of the pattern is less than that of the hole.
C. The diameter of the pattern is equal to that of the hole.

Figure A Figure B Figure C

Question 2.

Graded on a 1-7 scale

Part A

(A grade of up to 5 may be achieved by answering this part)

A soup spoon is made of highly-polished metal. The bowl of the spoon is spherical, with walls of thickness 1.5 mm, a
radius of curvature of 25.0 mm on the inside (and 26.5 mm on the outside).

(i) Draw ray diagrams showing what happens when sunlight hits the inside and the outside of the spoon.

(ii) You look at the spoon while holding it 33 cm from your face. Calculate the optical power of the surface and the
postion and magnification of the image formed when you look at the bowl of the spoon on the convex side.

(iii) Describe what you would see in (ii).

Part B
(For higher grades, this part must be answered in addition to part A)

(i) When the spoon is washed, it acquires a film of soapy water 0.05300 mm thick. The refractive index of the water
is 1.340. How would this affect the image you see in the spoon?

(ii) A bubble of radius 26.5 mm (with walls 0.05300 mm thick) forms from the soapy water. What would be observed
if a laser beam of wavelength 532.0 nm shone on the bubble at normal incidence?