PHYSICS AND THE VISUAL ARTS
Notes on LAB 4
IMAGING LIGHT
Activity 1.
Theory predicts that the reflectance approaches 100% as the angle of incidence nears 90°, that is at a glancing
angle. With a piece of ordinary paper (even the rough paperboard used to back a legal pad) try shining your
laser on the paper making a glancing angle. You should be able to see a strong reflection on the wall as the
direction of the beam becomes nearly parallel with the surface of the paper or paperboard.
Activity 4, Parts 4 & 5.
I have done this with an ordinary frosted light bulb. Low wattage is best. Use the largest diameter lens that
you have. Place the lens approximately two focal lengths away from the lamp.The image will then be about two
focal lengths from the lens on the other side. You should see the image on a piece of paper. Stand back from
the paper about two feet so that you can easily focus on the image. Then have someone remove the paper. It you
are aligned with your eye along a line that passes from the lamp through the lens and the image, you will see
the image in space.
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Last Modified: 07/14/11
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