Web Activities
UNIT 4 - THE WAVE NATURE OF LIGHT
Chapter 10 - Wave Effects of Light
10.1 Polarization of Light
10.4 Interference in Thin Films
10.5 Applications of Thin Films
10.6 Holography
10.9 Some Applications of Electromagnetic
Waves
Careers
Chapter 10 Review (p. 547)
Chapter 10 - Wave Effect of Light
10.1 Polarization of Light
Section 10.1 Questions (p. 498)
- Using the Internet or other resources, research the liquid crystal
displays (LCDs) common in electronic screens, such as calculator and
digital wristwatch readouts. Write a short report on how LCDs use
polarization.
How
Stuff Works
This popular website takes the reader through a series of pages
that describes how LCDs work. Look at the section that deals specifically
with liquid crystals, light, and electricity
Corning
Discovery Centre
A great site that has a tutorial on how the LCD panels are created.
You must have the flash plug-in to view this.
Dell
- Display Technologies
Gives a bit of a history of display devices but focuses on LCD panels
with some very good diagrams.
10.4 Interference in Thin Films
Section 10.4 Questions (p. 519)
- The national standards for new home construction may include thin-film
coatings, called "E-coatings," on thermopane windows for energy
conservation. Research this standard, and find out how E-coatings
are used to reduce heat loss in winter and decrease heat gain in summer.
Write a short report on your findings.
How
Stuff Works
This popular website takes the reader through a series of pages
that describe how smart windows work. Look at the section that deals
specifically with suspended particle devices
Inert
Gas Window Fills
This site gives a good description of the technology, describes
some areas where it is used, and gives details like pricing and
benefits/limitations of the windows.
EWC:
How Windows Work
Interesting diagrams showing heat loss. This also includes a thermal
performance chart for different window casings
BobVilla.com
This website, from the creator of popular home improvement shows,
is a less technical description of how Low-E windows work with an
interesting discussion of how they work in low temperature and high
temperature climates.
10.5 Applications of Thin Films
Section 10.5 Questions (p. 524)
- Research the Internet and other sources and write a short report
in how CDs and DVDs are recorded on a computer. Pay particular attention
to the operation of the laser and its effect on the recording surface.
How
Stuff Works
This popular website takes the reader through a series of pages
that describe how CDs work. Look at the section that deals specifically
with the CD player and describes the laser involved.
How
Stuff Works
This popular website takes the reader through a series of pages
that describe how DVDs work.
How
Stuff Works
This website looks specifically at the surface of CDs and DVDs and
how data is stored on them.
- Thin-film technology is used in the manufacture of microchips
and microprocessors as a means of measuring the thickness of the various
applied layers. Research this application and write a short report
on your findings.
Semi-conductor
Manufacturing Process
A nice graphic flowchart showing exactly how these chips are created.
Intel
Research
The section on microprocessors demonstrated how different laws of
physics are used to produce their microprocessor chips and different
designs.
LSI
Logic - Resources and More
This is a site actually designed for teachers that has a number
of links to the design of microprocessors and a section that deals
with careers in the industry.
10.6 Holography
Section 10.6 Questions (p. 527)
- The words "hologram" and "holographic" have some
special uses outside physics. Research what historians mean by "holographic
document" and what lawyers mean by "holographic will,"
and write a report on your findings.
Holographic
Wills
This is a legal site from Idaho that explains what a holographic
will is.
- Research holographic computer memory and prepare a research paper
on how it might work.
How
Stuff Works
This popular website takes the reader through a series of pages
that describe how holographic memory works. Look at the section
that deals specifically with desktop holographic data storage
Tweak3D.net
A site dedicated to the different types of holograms. Scroll down
to the section on holographic storage.
How
Stuff Works
This is an interesting technology that is being developed at the
same time as holographic memory. Moth are alternatives to present
computer memory storage.
10.9 Some Applications of Electromagnetic Waves
Explore an Issue: Cell Phones (p. 538)
Is using a cell phone hazardous to your health? Research the issue,
citing the major studies done over the past three years. Make a note
of the funding for each of the studies you examine.
- Evaluate the studies based on objective criteria.
- Summarize your findings and indicate to what extent the evidence
objectively supports (or, as the case may be, is currently insufficient
to support) a conclusion.
ABCNews.com
- FDA to Launch Cellphone Research
Do
Cellullar Phones Cause Cancer?
FDA
Study Scrutinizes Cell Phone Safety
A good article that sets out the major issues very clearly.
Cellphone/Brain
Cancer debate
This article is slightly biased in favour of cellphone use. It has some
good links to related sites for further reading.
Section 10.9 Questions (p. 539)
- The heating effect of microwaves was originally noticed by radar
operators and the end of World War II. They found that they could
reheat meals by placing them near the magnetron tubes generating the
microwaves. This discovery eventually led to the microwave oven. Research
the Internet and other sources and answer the following questions:
- What are the wavelengths of the microwaves used in household
microwave ovens?
- What is their source?
- How do microwaves heat food?
- What types of food cannot be heated in a microwave oven?
- Draw a labelled diagram showing the construction of a typical
microwaves oven. Comment on the safety features.
- Why was the practice of the radar operators dangerous?
How
Stuff Works
This popular website takes the reader through a single page of information.
It does answer many of the questions that are in the textbook. Make
sure you go to the related links at the bottom.
Discover
Exactly how a Microwave Oven Works
This site shows the inside of the microwave and great diagrams of
its construction.
Careers
Practice (p. 543)
- Identify several careers that require knowledge about the wave
nature of light. Select a career you are interested in from the list
you made or from the careers described above. Imagine that you have
been employed in your chosen career for five years and that you are
applying to work on a new project of interest.
- Describe the project. It should be related to some of the
new things you learned in this unit. Explain how the concepts
from this unit are applied in the project.
- Create a resume listing your credentials and explaining why
you are qualified to work on the project. Include in your resume:
o your educational background: what university degree or diploma
program you graduated with, which educational institute you attended,
post-graduate training (if any);
- your skills
- your duties in previous positions
- your salary expectations
Monster.ca
Workopolis.com
Jobs.net
Physics
Web - Careers in Physics
These sites are major job searching sites for Canada. Look for
careers in the Engineering and Science field.
Chapter 10 Review (p. 547)
- Research the use of polarization as a navigation aid by spiders.
Write a research paper on your findings.
ABCNews.com:
Spider Eyes an 'Optical Compass'
A great article that describes how the effect in spiders was first discovered
with a good analysis of how spiders see. It includes the experimental
method used.
How
Spiders See the Light
Good description of how spiders see. Less technical than the article
in ABCnews.
The vivid iridescence of the peacock, comprising chiefly blues and
greens, is caused by interference of white light upon reflection in
the complex, layered surface of its feathers. This is called biomimicry.
Using the Internet
and other sources, research biomimicry and report briefly on hoe
this effect is produced in the peacock feather as well as similar
effects seen in grackle and hummingbird plumage.
Why are investigators
studying iridescent plumage?
Biomimicry
A site dedicated purely to biomimcry.
