PHYS 142 Let There Be Light (SI)
Light surrounds us and informs our daily life. In this course for non-physics majors, we will examine many aspects of light and its impact on the world around us. We will begin by studying geometric optics - the optics of shadows, lenses, fiber optics, and rainbows. We will then move onto wave optics - the optics of anti-reflective coatings, pointillism, and polarized sunglasses. Finally, we will wrap up by considering the quantum mechanical nature of light - the physics behind solar power, LASERs, and optical tweezers. As we study these topics, emphasis will be placed on the everyday applications of the physics concepts and their impact on the world.
Prerequisite
One course from Science in the Natural World