Optical Instruments
PHYS 310 · Module 2
This module applies geometric optics to practical image-forming systems. Students learn how cameras, eyes, microscopes, telescopes, and aberrations work.
Lessons in this module
The camera and the eye
Cameras and eyes use lenses or curved surfaces to form real images on light-sensitive surfaces. This lesson compares focus, aperture, exposure, accommodation, and vision correction.
Microscopes
Microscopes use lenses to magnify small nearby objects. This lesson explains simple magnifiers, compound microscopes, angular magnification, resolution, and numerical aperture.
Telescopes
Telescopes collect light from distant objects and increase angular resolution. This lesson explains refracting and reflecting telescopes, magnification, light-gathering power, and diffraction limits.
Optical aberrations
Real optical systems do not form perfect images. This lesson introduces spherical aberration, chromatic aberration, coma, astigmatism, field curvature, distortion, and correction methods.
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