• Notes & Hazards
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Random helpful notes for your experiment:

1. Notes on the Theory part:
   • On p. 82, Figure 2, please note that the mirror with the positive curvature is considered concave and the mirror with the negative curvature is called convex.
   • Thin lenses (those with thickness << diameter) are described by an equation exactly like the mirror equation. In fact, if you substitute R=2f (refer to Q2.1.1) into the mirror equation, you get the lens equation: 1/f = 1/d_o + 1/d_i
   • Note: for lenses, when the image is on the same side as the object (diverging lens) then d_i is negative; when the image is on the opposite side of the object (converging lens), then d_i is positive.
2. Notes on the Procedure part:
   • Section 4.1: remember, the incident angle is measured from the perpendicular to the mirror and not from the path of the light beam!
   • Section 4.2: for this part, you'll need to draw a tangent to the curved mirror at the point where the beam of light hits it and then draw a perpendicular to that tanget line before you can determine the incident angle.
   • Section 4.4: take special notice of the note where it tells you that "these angles are measured from a hypothetical line which is perpendicular to the surface of the cell." In order to do this, just extend the radius from the center to the point where the rays intersect (see picture below):
     
     Here, the extended radius is the normal (perpendicular) to the surface at that point (so the angle of incidence or refraction would be relative to the extended radius).
   • Question 4.5.1: For this question, the 1st surface is directed perpendicular to the incident light beam; you should be able to use Snell's Law (n_isinq_i = n_rsinq_r, where the index of refraction is n = c/v (see p. 82) and the subscript i refers to incident and r refers to refracted) here.
   • Question 4.5.2: For this part, rotate the prism slightly to the right from the position in Q4.5.1
   • Question 4.5.3: For this part, rotate the prism slightly to the left from the position in Q4.5.1
3. A really cool site on Total Internal Reflection (check out the Java applet there).

1. On p. 86, Section 4.6, please ignore the first sentence when answering Question 4.6.1 (you don't need to use Snell's law for this question; a simple measurement with the ruler should suffice).

Required Materials:

1. Laboratory Manual (SGM 407)
2. Laboratory Answer Book
3. Calculator with statistical functions

1. This lab is relatively quick as long as you're comfortable with your geometrical skills. The above hints should take you through the hairier aspects of the lab but most of it is relatively straight-forward.
2. The midterms are in... here is the breakdown for my sections:

   Class	Mean	s
   Wednesday 12-3 Section	81	11
   Thursday 12-3 Section	81	8
   Thursday 3-6 Section	81	13

3. Feedback on if you're finding these pages helpful (or not) is definitely good. So if you have any strong opinions, or, dare I say it, ideas on how to make this better, drop me a line! Also, if you have any thoughts on the midterm review, please feel free to drop me a line (it'll only help improve the final review).