#  Geometrical Optics; Refraction and Dispersion 

 



 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

### Optics Disk

\[M | t | ★★★\]  
Angles of incidence, reflection, and refraction clearly demonstrated.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/optics-disk)\]

### Blackboard Optics

\[L | t | ★★★\]  
Mobile ray-tracing kit to demonstrate basic geometrical optics.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/blackboard-optics)\]

### Microscope and Telescope Optics

\[M | t++ | —\]  
Long and short focal length lenses are arranged on an optics rail to model these two optical instruments.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/microscope-and-telescope-optics)\]

### Relative Indices of Refraction

\[M | t+ | ★★★\]  
A lens immersed in a fish tank of water seems to lose its refractive powers to focus light.

\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/relative-indices-refraction)\]

### Disappearing Prism

\[S | t | ★★★\]  
Immersion of quartz prism in water/glycerine solution of equal refractive index.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/disappearing-prism)\]

### Paraxial Ray Optics Cloaking

\[L | t++ | ★★★\]  
A combination of four lenses make a 3-D cloak with visible light

\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/paraxial-ray-optics-cloaking)\]

### Wheel & Axle Wavefront

\[L | t+ | ★\]  
Mechanical analog/simulation of wavefront at boundary between two mediums.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/wheel-axle-wavefront)\]

### Florence's Rainbow

\[L | t+ | ★★\]  
A rainbow is produced with a water-filled Florence flask; with monochromatic illumination, this becomes Descartes' rainbow.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/florences-rainbow)\]

### Giant Raindrop

\[M | t+ | —\]  
Large water-filled plastic raindrop shows, by laser ray tracing, the opticsof rainbow making.

### Dispersion

\[M | t+ | —\]  
Prism and white light; second prism shows no further dispersion.

### Achromatic Prism

\[M | t+ | —\]  
Refraction without dispersion!

### Hotplate Mirage

\[M/L | t+ | ★★\]  
Laser beam is refracted up when a hotplate is positioned below it.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/hotplate-mirage)\]

### Hot Road Mirage

\[M/L | t+ | ★★★\]  
Viewing down a heated model roadway produces a mirage.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/hot-road-mirage)\]

### Schlieren Optics

\[L | t+++ | ★★★★\]  
Optical technique that allows us to see refraction caused by gases.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/schlieren-optics)\]

### Bouncing Light Beam

\[M | t++ | ★★★\]  
Long tank with sugar solution forming refractive index gradient; laser beam bounces down the tank by total internal reflection/refraction.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/bouncing-light-beam)\]

### Real and Virtual Images

\[M | t+ | —\]  
Formation of images using lenses.

### Refraction of Microwaves

\[L | t++ | —\]  
10 cm microwaves refracted through wax prism.

### Critical Angle

\[L | t | —\]  
Optics disk ensemble using plastic semi circle.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/critical-angle)\]

### Fishtank TIR

\[M | t+ | ★\]  
Laser beam reflected off underside surface of water in tank.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/fishtank-tir)\]

### Fiber Optics

\[M | t | ★★\]  
Fiber optic strands and clear plastic rods transmit laser light.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/fiber-optics)\]

### Bucket of Light

\[M | t+ | ★★★★\]  
Stream of water transmits laser light as it arcs into a bucket.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/bucket-light)\]

### Frustrated Total Internal Reflection

\[M | t+ | ★★\]  
To reflect or not to reflect at the interface of two prisms in intimate contact? That is the question.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/frustrated-total-internal-reflection)\]

### Contact Us

**Mailing Address**: Lecture Demonstration Services, Science Center, Rm B-08A, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138  
**Campus Location**: Science Center B-08A | **Tel**: (617) 495-5824 | **Email**: scidemos-at-fas.harvard.edu