Syllabus
Physics 120: Light and Color
Fall 2009
Office: Upham:
153
Telephone: 472-1080
Office
hours: T
& R: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
W: 9:30 – 11:30 AM & 5:00 –
6:00 PM
All other times, by appointment only.
E-mail: boukahia@uww.edu
Course Description:
PHYSCS 120: LIGHT AND COLOR
An
introduction to light science for students in the visual arts and for
students with
an interest in art. The course includes the properties of light
and color,
the interaction of light with matter, the formation of visual
images, and
color vision. Two 75 minute lectures and one two-hour
laboratory
per week.
Coreq:
MATH 140 or MATH 141
Textbook: Seeing the Light,
D. Falk, Wiley, Available at Textbook Rental.
Topics to be covered (Tentative)
Chapter 1: Fundamental properties of
light.
Chapter 2: Principles of Geometric
Optics.
Chapter 3: Mirrors and Lenses.
Chapter 4: The Camera and Photography.
Chapter 5: The Human Eye and Vision
(Producing the Image).
Chapter 6: Optical Instruments.
Chapter 7: The Human Eye and Vision
(Processing the Image).
Chapter 9: Color
Exams:
Three
mid-terms and a final
1.
Exam 1: Thursday, Sep.24th in Room 141 UH
2.
Exam 2: Thursday, Oct. 22rd in Room 141 UH
3.
Exam 3: Thursday, Nov 19th in Room 141 UH
4.
Final Exam: Tuesday, Dec. 15th
, 3:15 – 5:15 PM, in 141 UH
Homework:
A number of problems will be assigned in class on Tuesdays
and will be collected ten days later. You are encouraged to start working on
your assignment as soon as possible. Feel free to stop by my office if you need
help.
Term Paper:
Groups of three students will select a project from
the chapters in the book that were not covered in class and expand the subject
through research using trustworthy online resources or published books in the
science of photography or optics. The paper must be presented and discussed in
class.
Grading Policy:
Your grade in
this course will be based on
1.
Project counts 25%
of your final grade.
2.
Homework counts 10%
of your final grade.
3.
Laboratory counts 20%
of your final grade (**).
4.
Exams: each of the midterm exams counts 10% of your final grade.
5.
Final exam counts 15%
of your final grade.
(**) Please Note:
The laboratory portion of this course (10 experiments) is mandatory.
Missing one Lab session will result in halving your total grade. Missing two
labs will result in a failing grade for the course.
Grading Scale:
A
95%—100%
A-
90%—94%
B+
86%—89%
B
82%—85%
B-
78%—81%
C+
74%—77%
C
70%—73%
C-
66%—69%
D+ 61%—65%
D
56%—60%
D- 50%—55%
F
<50%
Course Policies:
Avoid
missing a scheduled examination. No
make-up exams will be given. Class attendance is not required but the students are responsible for assignments if they do miss any class period.
All electronic devices (e.g., cellular phones, pagers, I-pods,
etc.) must be turned off while in
class. NO CELL PHONES ARE ALLOWED DURING EXAMS. You will not
be allowed to use cell phones as calculators
Week
|
Date |
Experiment |
|
2 |
Sep. 9 |
Measurements in Physics |
|
3 |
Sep. 16 |
Reflection and refraction of
light |
|
4 |
Sep. 23 |
Make up week |
|
5 |
Sep. 30 |
Plane mirrors |
|
6 |
Oct. 7 |
Thin Lenses |
|
7 |
Oct. 14 |
Free Format Lab |
|
8 |
Oct. 21 |
Make-up week |
|
9 |
Oct. 28 |
Interference Phenomenon |
|
10 |
Nov. 4 |
Diffraction: Single and
double-slit |
|
11 |
Nov. 11 |
Free Format Lab |
|
12 |
Nov. 18 |
Make-up week |
|
13 |
Nov. 25 |
Free Format Lab |
University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Policies
Special needs statement: Students with special needs should contact the
instructor to make appropriate arrangements.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is
dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment. It
is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize
themselves with University policies regarding Special
Accomodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs
Accomodation, Discrimination
and Absence for
University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate
and Graduate Timetables; the Rights and
Responsibilities section of the Undergraduate Bulletin; the
Academic
Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and
Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and
the Student Academic
Disciplinary Procedures [UWS Chapter 14]; and the Student Nonacademic
Disciplinary Procedures [UWS Chapter 17].)