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-3 votes
1 answer
56 views

Why aren't all objects and their images same in size?

Suppose there is an object in front of a convex lens and we know that the light rays from each point on the surface of object will converge at a different point and form an image. So that means that ...
Virender Bhardwaj's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
46 views

Relating Brachistochrone problem to Fermat's principle of least time [closed]

When I came across the Brachistochrone problem, my teacher said we could relate it to Fermat's principle of least time. So, we could make many glass slabs of high $\mathrm dx$, and every slab has a ...
AANT's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
1 answer
89 views

Reflection coefficient: Acoustics vs Mechanics

I recently tried to derive the reflection coefficient $R$. This is not a complicated task, however after making some literature research I found two derivations which arrive at seemingly different ...
Lockhart 's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
13 views

Simultaneous measurement of the size and mass of nanoparticles in liquid

The size of colloidal nanoparticles in a liquid can be measured from optical reflectance (or absorption) spectra. The smaller the metal (semiconductor) nanoparticle, the more its color shifts to the ...
Ванек Огонек's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
627 views

Is Principle of Least Action a first principle? [closed]

It is on the basis of Principle of Least Action, that Lagrangian mechanics is built upon, and is responsible for light travelling in a straight line. Is its the classical equivalent of Schrodinger's ...
megamonster68's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
291 views

Lossless beam splitter relations

Wikipedia says that for a beam splitter $$\begin{bmatrix}E_{c}\\ E_{d} \end{bmatrix}=\begin{bmatrix}r_{ac} & t_{bc}\\ t_{ad} & r_{bd} \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}E_{a}\\ E_{b} \end{bmatrix}$$ ...
Darkenin's user avatar
  • 1,028
1 vote
0 answers
94 views

The tilting of solar cells and their efficiency

This is a thought experiment I am considering. It concerns putting solar panels on a flat roof. The question is whether one should tilt them. Whilst there are more mundane reasons for tilting them (eg ...
SvenForkbeard's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
184 views

How can solve to calculate position of image for any random point and random paraxial rays?

I am a high school student and I have a confusion related to optics {image formation via spherical mirrors) in all my books they say to find location of image its convenient to use the following rays&...
Arun Bhardwaj's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
56 views

Are there any videos of diffraction grading experiments one photon at a time?

I have seen the video of a double slit one photon at a time but wondering if there is a video of a Diffraction grading experiment one photon at a time.
Bill Alsept's user avatar
  • 4,083
0 votes
0 answers
40 views

Stroboscopic effect

Can you explain why exactly when I see the rotating blades of a fan or helicopter, there are dark patches and the patches start rotating slowly and even start moving in the reverse direction when seen ...
Sidarth's user avatar
  • 997
2 votes
2 answers
39 views

Is this interference or superimposed image?

When you overlay two identical screens a new patterns forms as they offset. See image: The two screens are not touching or interacting with each other. Are the different patterns we see as the two ...
Bill Alsept's user avatar
  • 4,083
1 vote
1 answer
53 views

Reflection on moving mirrors [closed]

Say I have an endless mirror, in a x y plane, at y=1. Situation 1: the mirror is stationary and when we send light vertically from the origin, the light reflects back and returns to the origin. ...
user289714's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
19 views

Energy flux proportionality

It is considered trivial in texts that if: $J \propto \frac{\partial \psi}{\partial x} \frac{\partial \psi}{\partial t}$ Where $J$ is the energy flux, then $J$ is proportional to the amplitude of the ...
Darkenin's user avatar
  • 1,028
0 votes
2 answers
63 views

My question is about ray optics particularly image defects

I was learning about spherical abberation and in my book it is written that when parallel rays pass through lens marginal rays (which are far from principal axis) are bent more than paraxial rays(...
gurdeep singh's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
66 views

Does the minimum slit width change with different photon frequencies?

Send white light through a vertical polarizer and then through a second horizontal gap that is just wide enough to let all the light through. Now slowly close the second gap until it becomes a slit. ...
Bill Alsept's user avatar
  • 4,083

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