Light Science

by Rossing, Thomas D.; Chiaverina, Christopher J.

• ISBN13: 9780387988276
• ISBN10: 0387988270
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-10-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Intended for anyone with an interest in the visual arts and assuming no prior knowledge of physics, this introduction presents the science of light--that is, the science behind what and how we see. The approach emphasizes phenomena rather than mathematical theory and the joy of discovery rather than the drudgery of derivations--the opposite of "heavy science". Numerous simple experiments are included. 260 illus.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Our World of Light and Color	1	(22)
Rainbows	2	(3)
Blue Skies and Red Sunsets	5	(1)
Why Clouds Are White	5	(1)
The Color of Water	6	(1)
Green Leaves of Summer, Crimson Leaves of Autumn	7	(1)
What Is Color?	7	(2)
Mixing Colors by Addition	9	(1)
Mixing Colors by Subtraction	10	(2)
Color in Art	12	(1)
Shadows	13	(2)
Pinhole Camera	15	(1)
Summary	16	(7)
The Mystery of Light	23	(26)
The Nature of Light: Particles or Waves?	23	(1)
Waves	24	(1)
Progressive Waves	25	(1)
Impulsive Waves: Reflection	25	(4)
Superposition and Interference	29	(1)
Standing Waves	30	(1)
Electromagnetic Waves	31	(1)
Speed of Light	32	(2)
The Particle Nature of Light: Observing Photons	34	(1)
Wave Propagation in Two and Three Dimensions	35	(2)
The Doppler Effect	37	(1)
Water Waves	38	(3)
Summary	41	(8)
Reflection, Mirrors, and Kaleidoscopes	49	(30)
Images Formed by Plane and Curved Mirrors	51	(4)
Concave Mirrors	55	(4)
Convex Mirrors	59	(1)
Anamorphic Art	60	(2)
Kaleidoscopes	62	(3)
Other Applications of Mirrors in the Visual Arts	65	(4)
Mirrors in the Performing Arts: One-Way Mirrors	69	(2)
Summary	71	(8)
Refraction of Light	79	(26)
Bending of Light at a Boundary	79	(2)
Snell's Law	81	(1)
Dispersion	82	(1)
Total Internal Reflection	83	(3)
Diamonds	86	(1)
Lenses	86	(1)
Image Formation by Lenses	87	(5)
Converging Lens	88	(2)
Diverging Lens	90	(1)
Stopped Lens	91	(1)
Simple Cameras	92	(1)
The Human Eye	93	(2)
Telescopes and Microscopes	95	(2)
Summary	97	(8)
Interference and Diffraction	105	(24)
Interference of Waves from Two Identical Sources	105	(1)
Light Passing Through Two Slits: Young's Experiment	106	(2)
Interference in Thin Films	108	(3)
Michelson Interferometer	111	(1)
Applications of Interference	111	(2)
Antireflection Coatings	111	(1)
Multilayer Mirrors	112	(1)
Multilayer Interference Filters	113	(1)
Diffraction	113	(3)
Combined Interference and Diffraction	116	(3)
How Diffraction Limits Resolution	119	(1)
Multiple Slits and Gratings	120	(1)
3-D with Jumping Colors	121	(1)
Summary	121	(8)
Light Sources	129	(22)
Blackbody Radiation	129	(2)
Spectra of Light Sources	131	(1)
Spectral Sensitivity of the Eye	132	(1)
Measuring Illumination	133	(1)
Atoms	134	(2)
Fluorescence and Phosphorescence	136	(1)
Laser Light	137	(3)
Light-Emitting Diodes	140	(2)
Gas-Filled Arc Lamps	142	(1)
Summary	143	(8)
Polarized Light	151	(22)
Polarization by Selective Absorption	152	(3)
Law of Malus	154	(1)
Three Polaroid Filters	155	(1)
Polarization by Reflection	155	(2)
Polarization by Double Refraction: Birefringence	157	(2)
Polarization by Scattering	159	(1)
Three-Dimensional Images	160	(2)
Wave Plates	162	(1)
Photoelasticity	163	(1)
Optical Activity	163	(2)
Applications of Polarized Light in Art	165	(1)
Summary	166	(7)
Color Vision	173	(30)
Spectral Color	174	(2)
Photoreceptors in the Eye	176	(2)
Additive Color Mixing (Revisited)	178	(2)
Transmission and Reflection of Colored Light: Subtractive Color Mixing Revisited	180	(4)
Spectral and Monochromatic Filters	181	(1)
Spectral Power Distribution of Filtered Light	182	(1)
Spectral Reflectance	183	(1)
Color Perception	184	(3)
How Many Colors Can We See?	184	(1)
Afterimages	185	(1)
Contrast	185	(1)
Color Constancy	186	(1)
Paints and Inks	187	(1)
Halftone Printing	187	(1)
Four-Color Printing	187	(1)
Color Systems	188	(4)
Theories of Color Vision	192	(1)
Sources of Color	193	(1)
Colored Glass	194	(1)
Glazes and Enamels	194	(1)
Paint	195	(1)
Summary	196	(7)
Holography	203	(22)
Transmission Holograms	204	(3)
Virtual and Real Images	205	(1)
Two-Beam Transmission Holograms	206	(1)
Reflection Holograms	207	(2)
Bragg Reflection	208	(1)
Transfer Holograms	209	(1)
Rainbow (Slit-Transfer) Holograms	209	(1)
Phase Holograms	210	(1)
Color Holograms	210	(3)
Lippmann Color Holograms	211	(1)
Multicolor Rainbow Holograms	212	(1)
Pseudocolor Through Shrinkage	212	(1)
Multiple Scenes	213	(1)
Holographic Stereograms	213	(1)
Embossed Holograms	214	(1)
Holographic Interferometry	214	(3)
Real-Time Interferometry	215	(1)
Double-Exposure Interferometry	215	(1)
Time-Averaged Interferometry	216	(1)
TV Holography	217	(3)
Photopolymers	220	(1)
Computer-Generated Holograms	220	(1)
Summary	220	(5)
Photography	225	(20)
Evolution of Photography	225	(2)
Cameras	227	(2)
Focal Lengths, f-Numbers, and Field of View	229	(3)
Film	232	(2)
Color Film	234	(3)
Color Reversal Films	235	(1)
Color Negative Films	236	(1)
Instant Color Films	237	(1)
Lighting for Color Photography	237	(1)
High-Speed Flash Photography	237	(3)
Digital Photography	240	(1)
Summary	240	(5)
Computer Images	245	(18)
Evolution of Computer Imaging	245	(4)
What Is a Computer?	249	(2)
Bits and Bytes	251	(1)
Graphic Displays	252	(1)
Software	252	(1)
The Imaging Process	253	(3)
Computer-Aided Design	256	(1)
Computer Animation	257	(1)
Motion Capture and Performance Animation: Digital Puppets	258	(1)
Visual Effects for ``Titanic''	259	(1)
Summary	260	(3)
Optical Recording, Communication, and Photonics	263	(18)
Optical Storage and the Compact Disc	263	(3)
Recordable Compact Discs	266	(1)
DVD	267	(2)
DVD for Movies and Video	267	(2)
DVD for Computers	269	(1)
DVD for Audio	269	(1)
Optical Communication	269	(1)
Optical Computing	270	(1)
Optical Scanners	271	(1)
Holographic Memories	272	(1)
The Mouse	273	(1)
The Future of Photonics	274	(2)
Summary	276	(5)
Symmetry in Art and Nature	281	(22)
Translational Symmetry	281	(2)
Rotational Symmetry	283	(3)
Reflection Symmetry	286	(1)
Inversion Symmetry	286	(2)
Snowflakes	288	(1)
Right-Hand and Left-Hand Symmetry	289	(3)
Chirality and Life	291	(1)
Spirals and Propellers	291	(1)
Symmetry and Conservation Laws	292	(3)
Symmetry of Tiles	295	(1)
Border Art: Classes of Translational Symmetry	296	(1)
Decorative Patterns: Classes of Planar Symmetry	297	(2)
Summary	299	(4)
Visual Perception and Illusions	303	(30)
Visual Illusions	304	(1)
Everyday Illusions	304	(3)
Classifying Illusions	307	(3)
Ambiguous Figures	310	(2)
Distortion Illusions	312	(4)
Impossible Figures	316	(2)
The Grand Illusion: How Artists Produce a Sense of Depth	318	(9)
Aerial Perspective and Rayleigh Scattering	320	(2)
Shadows and Illumination	322	(1)
The Magic of Linear Perspective	323	(1)
The Use of Depth Cues: From the Sublime to the Impossible	324	(3)
Summary	327	(6)
Appendix A Numerical Answers to Odd-Numbered Exercises	333	(2)
Appendix B Standard International (SI) Units of Measurement	335	(2)
Appendix C Scientific or Exponential Notation	337	(2)
Appendix D Mathematical Helps	339	(1)
Appendix E Graphs	340	(2)
Appendix F Glossary	342	(11)
Appendix G Materials in Paintings	353	(6)
Appendix H Analysis of Art Using Physics and Chemistry	359	(2)
Appendix I Conservation and Restoration of Art	361	(4)
Appendix J Laboratory Experiments	365	(62)
Experiment 1.1 Exploring Color	365	(3)
Experiment 1.2 Shadows and Light Rays	368	(2)
Experiment 2.1 Waves on a Coiled Spring (Slinky TM)	370	(2)
Experiment 2.2 Transverse and Longitudinal Waves in One Dimension	372	(2)
Experiment 2.3 Standing Waves on a Wire	374	(1)
Experiment 2.4 Waves in Two Dimensions (Ripple Tank)	375	(3)
Experiment 3.1 Law of Reflection and Plane Mirrors	378	(4)
Experiment 3.2 Construct a Kaleidoscope	382	(3)
Experiment 3.3 Image Formation by Concave Mirrors	385	(2)
Experiment 4.1 Refraction and Total Internal Reflection	387	(3)
Experiment 4.2 Converging Lens	390	(2)
Experiment 4.3 Simple Magnifier and Telescope	392	(1)
Experiment 5.1 Diffraction and Interference of Water Waves	393	(1)
Experiment 5.2 Diffraction Grating	394	(2)
Experiment 5.3 Diffraction from Tracks of a Compact Disc	396	(2)
Experiment 5.4 Michelson Interferometer	398	(1)
Experiment 6.1 Spectrum Analysis with a Prism Spectrometer	399	(1)
Experiment 6.2 Spectrum Analysis with a Diffraction Grating	400	(1)
Experiment 7.1 Exploration of Polarized Light	401	(4)
Experiment 8.1 Color Perception	405	(5)
Experiment 8.2 Mixing Pigments: Subtractive Color Mixing	410	(2)
Experiment 9.1 Making a Reflection Hologram	412	(1)
Experiment 9.2 Making a Transmission Hologram	413	(3)
Experiment 9.3 Making a Cylindrical Hologram	416	(1)
Experiment 9.4 Holographic Images	417	(1)
Experiment 10.1 Exploring a Single-Use Camera with Built-In Flash	418	(3)
Experiment 10.2 Field of View and Depth of Field of a Camera Lens	421	(1)
Experiment 13.1 Symmetry Exploration	421	(6)
Name Index	427	(4)
Subject Index	431