Discusses the properties and application of three light-to-voltage optical sensors. The sensors have been used for sensing diffraction patterns, the inverse-square law, and as a fringe counter with an interferometer. (MVL)

Describes the quartz tuning fork, frequency divider, liquid crystals, and light polarization of a digital-readout watch. (MVL)

Provides an inexpensive method (less than $125) for performing experiments usually requiring a laser. Suggests building a laser diode light source, a device for producing multiple parallel beams, a light meter, a polar/analyzer, a laser light show apparatus, and a circuit to modulate the laser diode intensity. (MVL)

Proposes an alternative approach to locating the image formed by a lens. Two special rays are used to locate the image, then a number of other rays are drawn in to indicate that light from the object passes through every part of the lens. (MVL)

Describes a method using the sun and a prism to visualize the connection between wavelength and color. (MVL)

Introduces the method of ray tracing to analyze the refraction or reflection of real or virtual images from multiple optical devices. Discusses ray-tracing techniques for locating images using convex and concave lenses or mirrors. (MDH)

Discusses the following questions based on the assumption that students' personal experiences and prior beliefs about plane mirrors can promote interesting discussions: (1) How mirror images are formed? (2) Why doesn't paper behave like a mirror? (3) Does a mirror left-right reverse objects? and (4) Why are corner images of two perpendicular…

Describes an hour-long activity to illustrate the properties and use of cylindrical concave mirrors. Appropriate for non-science majors or high school students. (WRM)

Atmospheric optical effects can teach much about physics and especially optics. Coronae--coloured rings around the sun or moon--are large-scale consequences of diffraction, which is often thought of as only a small effect confined to the laboratory. We describe coronae, how they are formed and experiments that can be conducted on ones in the sky.…

Purpose: To explore whether deliberate organisational change of a public sector organisation (a local municipality) would create an avenue for organisational learning. Design/methodology/approach: A case study was set up to study the means by which the organisational change towards a digital administration was to come about. The organisational…

Describes a technique in which blackbody radiation emitted or absorbed by a single microwave cavity mode is detected and displayed on an oscilloscope. (Author/CP)

Describes a demonstration technique for showing multiple-slit interference patterns with the use of a Fabry-Perot etalon and a laser beam. A simple derivation of the analytical expression for such fringes is presented. (Author/CP)

Describes an activity involving a transparent water filled box and a plane mirror in which the refraction of light rays is demonstrated. (CP)

Investigates quantitatively the diffractions of light by a U.S. penny and an aperture of the same size. Differences noted between the theory and measurements are discussed, with probable causes indicated. (Author/CP)