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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 ...
2 votes
1 answer
58 views

How close to reality is my handwaving argument about Fabry Perot interferometers?

Under this answer to https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/55437/7982 I wrote a comment where propose the uncertainty inequality roughly written1 as $\Delta E \Delta t \ge h$ or for photons $\Delta \...
-1 votes
1 answer
239 views

How do you determine the handedness of the polarization vector of a beam of light?

The Wikipedia page on circular polarization says, [For] polarization [as] defined from the point of view of the source...left- or right-handedness is determined by pointing one's left or right thumb ...
-2 votes
1 answer
84 views

Function must be discontinuous over $r=0$ due to physical impossibility [closed]

In this question it is asked what the upper-bound of the ratio of a solid object's surface area can be visible through direct, unaided observation. The accepted answer says that there is no such upper-...
-1 votes
1 answer
45 views

Proof of the following derivate results

Anyone can help me proving the following If x'=sx where s is a constant then (d/dx') = (1/s)(d/dx)
1 vote
2 answers
507 views

Is Snell’s Law valid in this case?

When light travels in a perpendicular path from one medium to another medium of different optical density, is Snell’s law valid? $\sin i$ and $\sin r$ are both 0, right? So it isn’t valid. Is this ...
1 vote
2 answers
459 views

A doubt in trigonometric approximation used in the derivation of mirror formula

The following text is from Concepts of Physics by Dr. H.C.Verma, from chapter "Geometrical Optics", page 387, topic "Relation between $u$,$v$ and $R$ for Spherical Mirrors": If ...
1 vote
0 answers
75 views

What optical system could perform a multiplication/convolution of several rectangular pulses with different widths?

Statement There is a following multiplication/convolution of $n$ rectangular pulses with different widths $$ f(x)=\mathrm{rect}(c_1x)\ast\mathrm{rect}(c_2x)\ast\ldots\ast\mathrm{rect}(c_mx) $$ or $$ ...
2 votes
1 answer
322 views

Given a size of a known object in the image, how can we calculate the size of other objects in the same image?

The question considers a very specific scenario in which we have an image with let us say, two rectangle objects. We know width and height of one object. How can we calculate the dimensions of the ...
9 votes
2 answers
7k views

Why Does Snell's Law use Sine Instead of Angle Values? [closed]

I recognize that Snell's Law relates indices of refraction and the angles of incidence and refraction, but why does the equation use sine to describe those angles and not simply angle values? It would ...
2 votes
1 answer
166 views

Are there Non-conformal maps encountered in Physics?

We always encounter Conformal maps in Physics, may be they are easier to study, but are there Non-Conformal transformations encountered in Physics anywhere? if they are encountered, where are they ...
3 votes
1 answer
48 views

Can a Chemical's Opacity be Deduced Mathematically?

all. I have tried Googling but have had no luck. My question is simple (although, I presume the answer is not): If one knows the chemical structure of, well, a chemical, could its optical properties (...